SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1874. AT THE BANQUET.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 38, 17 January 1874, Page 5

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1874. AT THE BANQUET.

Eveeybod? knows as much about what happened at the Vogel banquet as we do. It ie not our intention therefore to give now a report or even a resume of the proceedings. Our only object in noticing the event is to put emphasis on some of its surroundings, de ails and omissions. The banquet was a political move, though it was stated to be merely complimentary, and a good many amongst Mr Vogel's political opponents were present. It appears to us to have been a remote preparation for the next general elections, which must take place at furthest after the next session of the Colonial Legislature. The Minister of Justice, it is most probable, w ill not again solicit the votes of the Dunedin constituency. Could the citizens of the commercial capital of the colony do better than ask the Premier to step into the shoes of their junior member? To represent Dunedin would no doubt strengthen the hand* of Mr Vogel ; and a numerously-signed requisition to him to become a candidate for one of the seats at the disposal of this constitueucy would be a triumphant answer to the carpings of his political enemies in Auckland. Mr Yogel is in the ascendant ; even Dunedin falls down before him and worships the lucky and so far successful minister. We have not joined in the adulation and ovation, nor shall we help to make him one of the representatives of Dunedin ; but we must say that he is as good as anyone else who would have the, remotest chance of being elected. Three of the speeches delivered on the occasion make the banquet memorable- The Superintendent of Otago presided ; and in proposing the health of the Premier, spoke of him in such terms as would Lead strangers to the conclusion that these two politicians had been always in accord, had never had terrible political conflicts, or been even opposed to each other on the political arena. Those, however, whose memory carries them back a few years, and who bear in mind the state of Otago provincial politics and parties not very long ago, will admit that there is some substratum of truth in the saying of some very wicked people— that so long as Mr Stafford is a possible Premier, Mr Vogel may count on the active and able support of the Superintendent of Otago. These wicked people say that the Superintendent of Otago does not hate the political Yogel less, but that he hates the political Stafford more. So much for the evidence of consistency afforded by the bauquet. In Mr' Vogel's speech there was nothing new, except some figures about land sales and the importation of cereals in Canterbury, from which he endeavoured to draw conclusions which "could not be legitimately iuferred. All that part about the indebtedness of the colony was only a repetition of the figures and inferences of his last budget speech il the House of Representatives. "But this banquet speech, which our contemporaries regard as a great speech, was really remarkable for the absence of all mention of the education difficulty. And yet this is the most important question of the day, and the uppeimost in. men's mind. The public works policy is settled ; in selfdefence, even if there were no other reason — and there are many good ones in their favor — the colony is bound to proceed with railways and other public works to completion, and to persevere in introducing immigrants into the colony by thousands. These are settled points in the public mind, and it is a work of supererogation to discuss 1 hem at this time. As far as we remember, there were

only two other questions of public policy mentioned by the Premier — the raising of the price of land and the conservation of forests. The wisdom of the first proposal will be vehemently questioned. As to the second, the only difficulty is as to the details and machinery of a law for preserving the forests. As to the propriety and necessity of preserving them, there is no second opinion. But why did Mr Vogel omit all mention of the only question of great importance and interest at the present time ? Certainly, he was not called upon to discuss any political question at all at this banquet ; butvftvhen he elected to make a political speech and discuss 1 several social and political subjects, we are not doing anything illegitimate in asking how it came to pass that he omitted the most important and urgent of them all. Last session he carried an Education Bill through the House of Eepresentatives, and considered it very necessary. Indeed, it was almost the only Government Bill of any great importance introduced by the Ministry. It did not become law owing to the unwillingness of the Government to accept it as amended by the Legislative Council. And yet no allusion was made to it in this " great speech " at the great banquet, at which three hundred noble Spartans sat down in the Thermopylae of the University to defend the works and immigration policy from the hostile attacks of imaginary assailants. The third memorable speech is that delivered by His Excellency the Governor. In reference to this speech, we are placed in a difficulty. His Excellency's speech is not public property in the same way as are the utterances of the Hon. the Premier of the colony and the Superintendent of Otago. These two officials are the work of the people's hands ; His Excellency the Governor is Her Majesty's making. We do not, therefore, presume to take such liberties with His Excellency's name and words as we consider we can, without irreverence, make use of when speaking only of the Premier and Superintendent. We regret that His Excellency advocated additional taxation tor the purpose of providing grander school buildings in this province. Such buildings would hardly contribute to rendering the education system more effective than it is, and the additional taxation would become a very serious j aggravation of the injustice under which we Catholics i labor* at present. If His Excellency's advice be followed, , and wo fear it will, the consequence will be that the minority, which is at present excluded in effect, will be | compelled to pay for the support of schools from which ] they cannot derive any advantage. We are very sorry j that His Excellency has given his influence to such an , unjust system.