MR. BALLANCE, M.H.R.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 455, 10 January 1878, Page 3

MR. BALLANCE, M.H.R.

We iitny Row take it ss settled that the member for JSunyitikei lisis joined tlie Ministry Uis p.->rUoi.o will be thai, of Minister of Lands or Minister of Kducatiou, and before long lie is 1 -kely to succeed to the Treasury. Tiie r.ceessiou of Mr. Ballance gives the Provincial District of Wellington a representative in the Government. "Now that abolition of Provincialism is accepted it is h -Hly logical to consider Provincial representation. The selection of Ministers should be made from the' ranks of the best men to be found in Parliament. Good administrators ert far too scarce to be handicapped bj the misfortune of locality, lu practice this may as yet hardly be possible. At the same time the attempt made by Sir George Grey in the first instance to please all Provincial districts weakened bis Ministry in the House, while the districts so carefully considered hardly felt flittered at the unexpected prominence given to their representatives.

Mr. Uuliance's abilities entitle him to a portfolio, even if we disregard the assumed necessity of giving a representative to the Provincial District of Wellington. He has been in the House lor three sessions. He has re Trained r'rom party battle, and. by ©awfully husbanding his strength, and speaking seldom and after much thought, he has earned a position on the floor of the House ■which m ght be enTied by far more experienced men. He is either not a strong party man, or else places his position before that of his parly. He entered Parliament a strong supporter of Sir J uliue Vogel. He was, it must be confessed, an extreme Abolitionist, and we do not love him for it. He followed Sir Julius YogeJ so long as he remained in the Colony, and he pursued Abolition to the death of the Provinces. After the Provinces fell he whs out of his element as a supporter of the Atkinson Administration, and faltered in his allegiance at the commencement of last session. His first act of open rebellion was in reference to Mr. Whilaker's Native Lands Act, which he successfully led the House to throw bick into Ministers' faces. After this he showed signs of again wavering back, which, if continued for a much longer period, would have utterh ruined his carefully-earned prestige. It was to his credit that he ascertained this, and made a stand in open opposition, recognising Sir George Grey as the" only possible leader of a Liberal party* in the House. It was also to his credit that he refused to be mixed up with the absurd pretentions of the Middle Party, and ridiculed the idea of such a party ruling the Colony. In the first formation of the Grey Ministry Mr. Ballance, we understand, refused to take office, although rexily pressed by Sir George himself, on the ground that his recent separation from the Atkiuson party would impair his usefulness, pud render him liable to the accusation of party desertion fjr personal ends. We sup-po-e lie has now seen his way to free himself lrom such an imputation.

Mr. Bxllance, it' not a stro g party man, is oue of the exponents of the necessity of party O-iverninei-t, bat. attaches the condition that parlies sluli be divided not by Pronnci i! cr p rsoual attachments, but by distinct doctrines oi'a Lil>eral or Conservative nature. He believes ihat there can ony be two pirtics, aud most heartily lie throws in his lot, with the New Zealand Liberals. Iu some things he is, we thinu, in error, and iu some things he shews considerable bias. In a previous usue we alluued to his somewhat incorrect views upon the balance of tr tde. We may further aliu ie to his fallacious arguments iu" furor of compensation ta the publicans whose licen=-es uiig t be cancelled under the J licensing Act. tie i-, however, most liberal on the lani question ; is firmly impressed with the belief that property ougut to bear its share in sustaining the burdens ol the Colony; and, to add to his virtues in our eyes, he is a country member. In this last capacity country disown to him the initiation last "session of the proceeding? which have secured to localities ona third of the rents of land held under deferred payments.

Mr. t<a'iauce will, we think, prove a suecsssful Minister. He is a far abler man th-.m any of the members of the late Ministry, except Mr. Wlrituker and Mr. Donald Reid. His eau'ion will preserve him fr«m acts of while experience will speedily come to his assistance, and enable him to play the part of the ma.i of all tact, sustained with such skill for go miuy years by br. Pollen. Mr. Rullance is, we should think, uuder forty years of a>e. He is by profession a journalist, being the proprietor and conductor i-f a well got up daily piper in Wanganui. We wish him a long and successful career.