Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/498

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DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
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and other public work, embracing the establishment of several Liberal journals in Warwickshire, one notably which he started in advocacy of rural and agrarian reform, and which, as the organ of the National Agricultural Labourers' Movement of 1872, had a weekly circulation of some seventy thousand copies, and was frequently mentioned in the House of Commons and the leading papers of the day in connection with the land question. Mr. Vincent, among much other public work, initiated and convened the first thoroughly representative National Farm Labourers' Conference at Leamington in 1872 (under the presidency of Mr. George Dixon, M.P.), which brought out Joseph Arch as the national champion of the interests of his class, also Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., as the earliest advocate of the "three acres and a cow" system, and has since led to important political results. Advocating the nationalisation of the land and being strongly opposed to strikes, Mr. Vincent seceded in 1875 (after three years of arduous work) from the Labourers' Union, of which he was honorary treasurer, and started a national scheme, under the presidency of Professor F. W. Newman, for acquiring land to furnish farm labourers, on a self-helpful basis, with small holdings and allotments, but had to relinquish his connection with it on account of impaired health.

Vogan, Arthur James, resides in New Zealand, and is the author of a work entitled "The Black Police: a Story of Modern Australia," published in 1891 by Messrs. Hutchinson & Co., of London. Its main purpose is to pourtray the treatment of the blacks by the whites in the early squatting days of Queensland; and its revelations are asserted to be mainly the outcome of the author's personal observation and experiences in that colony. There are numerous observations from Mr. Vogan's pencil.

Vogel, Hon. Sir Julius, K.C.M.G., sometime Premier of New Zealand, is the son of Albert Leopold Vogel, of London, and Phoebe his wife, eldest daughter of Alexander Isaac, of Hatcham Grove, Surrey, and Wolsingham Park, Durham, and was born in London on Feb. 24th, 1835, and educated at home and at London University School. At the age of sixteen he went into mercantile pursuits, but migrated to Victoria after the discovery of the goldfields in 1852. In Victoria he was concerned in various business pursuits, and subsequently became editor of the Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser, and proprietor of other country papers. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Victorian Parliament, he proceeded, in 1861, to Dunedin, N.Z., and shortly afterwards purchased a half-share in the Otago Witness, and started the Otago Daily Times, the first daily paper in New Zealand. Both these papers Mr. Vogel edited for several years. In 1862 he entered the Provincial Council of Otago, and in 1866 became head of the Provincial Government, which office he held till 1869. He entered the House of Representatives in 1863. In 1869 he joined the Fox Ministry, being Colonial Treasurer from June 1869 to Sept. 1872, Commissioner of Stamps from June 1869 to Sept. 1872, Postmaster-General from August 1869 to Sept 1872, Commissioner of Customs from August 1869 to Jan. 1871 and Nov. 1871 to Sept. 1872, and Electric Telegraph commissioner from July 1869 to Sept. 1872. Upon the assumption of office by the Ministry, Mr. Fox announced the intention of retiring from aggressive operations in the Maori war. It was resolved that the better policy of the country lay in encouraging immigration, so that the colonists might soon be numerous and strong enough to be without fear in the event of fresh native troubles. With this view the Ministry decided to open up the interior of the North Island by a vigorous policy of public works and immigration. Thus was Mr. Vogel's famous public works scheme set on foot. At this time there were many difficulties to surmount. In the first place the Middle Islanders had bitterly complained that a great part of the cost of the Maori wars fell upon them, and the Government had to find proposals acceptable to them; and in the next place they had to overcome the opposition of the Provincial Councils, who would resent any intrusion on their functions. Mr. Vogel expounded his policy on June 28th, 1870, in the annual budget, and subsequently it was accepted by the Houses. Two commissioners, Dr. Featherstone and Mr. (now Sir) Francis D. Bell, were sent to England to confer with the Imperial Government, and succeeded in persuading them to guarantee a loan of

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