MR. BALLANCE, M.H.R.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 455, 12 January 1878, Page 3

MR. BALLANCE, M.H.R.

We may now take it as settled that the tneinber for Baiigitikei ha? joined the Ministry. His portfolio will be that, of Minister of 1-anda orMinister of Kducaliou, end ba-ibre long he is likely to succeed to the Treasury. The accession of Mr. Balianee giVei the Provincial District of Wellington a tat."ve ifi the Government. Sow that abolition of Provincialism is accepted it is h rdl v logical to -.■onsider Provincial representation. The selection of Ministers should be rr-ade from the ranks of the best men to be foirid in Parliament Good administrators are far too scarce to be handicapped by the misfortune of locality. In practice this rnay 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 his Ministry in the House, while the dis tricts so carefully considered b&rdly felt flit tered at the unexpected prominence given to tbeir representatives. Mr. Balance's abilities entitle him Tj> a portfolio, even if we disregard the assumed necessity of giving a r>pT?senlaMve to t'e Pro yiucial District. r>f Wellington. He has been in the House 'or three ikessiotos. He has refrained from party battle, and, by carefully husbanding his strength, and speaking seldom and after much thought, he has earned a position on the floor of the House which might be enTied by far more experienced men. He is either not a strong party man, or ehe places his position before that of his party. He entered Parliament a strong supporter of Sir Julius Vogel. He was, if must be confessed, an extreme Abolitionist, and we do not love him for it. He followed Sir Julius Togel so long as he remained in the Colony, and he pursued Abolition to the death of the Provinces. After the Province? fell he was 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. Whitaker's Native Lands Act, which he successfully led the House to throw back into Ministers' faces. After this he showed signs of again wavering back, which if continued for a much longer period, would have utterl} ruined his carefully-earned prestige. It Was to his credit that he ascertained this, and made a stand iu 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 really pressed by Sir George himself, on the ground that Ins recent separation from the Atkinson party would impair hi* usefulness, end render him liable to the accusation of party desertion for personal ends. We suppose he has now seen his way to free himself from such an imputation.

Mr. Ballance, if not a strong party man, is one of the exponents of t,he necessity of party Government, but attaches the condition that parties shall be divided not by Provincial or personal attachments, but by distinct doctrines of a Liberal or Conservative nature. He believes that there can only be two parties, and most heartily he" throws in his lot with the New Zealand Liberals. In some things he is, we think, in error, and in some things he shews considerable bias. In a previous issue we alluded to his somewhat incorrect views upon the balance of trade. We may further allude to his fallacious arguments in favor of compensation to the publicans whose licenses mig t be cancelled under the Licensing Act. He is, however, most liberal on the land question ; is firmly impressed with the belief that property ought to bear its share in sustaining the burdens o! the Colony; and, to add to his virtues in our eyes, he is* a country member. In this last capacity country disowe to him the initiation last session of the proceedings which have secured to localities one third of the rents of land held under deferred payments. Mr. Ka'iance will, we think, prove a successful Minister. He is a far abler man than any of the members of the late Ministry, except Mr. Wliitaker and Mr. Donald Keid! His caution will preserve him fr;>m acts of indiscretion, while experience will speedily come to his assistance, and enable him to nlav the part of the ma ) of all tact, sustained with such skill for so many years by l)r. Pollen. Mr. Ballance is, we should think, under forty years of aje. He is by profession a journalist, being the proprietor and conductor of a well got up daily p:iper in Wanganui. We wish him a long and successful career.