THE BALLANCE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1107, 19 May 1893, Page 35

THE BALLANCE GOVERNMENT.

TO THB EDITOR.

Sir, —A looker-on often; sees a more in a game which is sometime*' unnoticed by more skilful players. The Evening Post has lately turned round, and tried to eay bandsome tilings of the late Mr Baliance, and it appoara to me"to be taking up <heroloof the candid friend towards the Government. Its editor worshipped Sir Julius Vogel, and be now pots the late Mr Ballanoe on a par with his idol. Ido not, I deem that the late Premier was a far superior man to Sir Julius ; the latter's policy was borrowing, Mr Ballance's the opposite. W Sir Julius had had his way we should be 10 millioua deeper in debt, and monopoly would have its lease renewed.

To new comers it may be interesting to become acquainted with the style formerly employed by the Evening Post towards the man—who now only livea in the kind memory of the public whom ho loved, and served so well. It would be trespassing upon your space to quote all the Billingsgate used by the editor during the last two years, I will therefore only select one sample, which gives me the opportunity of killng two birds with one stone. Sir George Grey, whom the Evening Post has abused for years, is now trotted forth to compare with the late statesman, vastly to the disadvantage of the latter. In the Issue of the Evening Post of the 27th February, 1892, its editor writes—after 'buttering' Sir George Grey, and terming him New Zealand's Grand Old Mad:—'Time certainly works wonders, but it oan never transform a Ballanoe into a Grey. As well might a pug puppy hope time would transform him into a noble Newfoundland, or a stately mastiff. The puppy could not be expected to understand this . . ... Sir G. Grey's

ideal is a very lofty one,' Mr Bailanae's is possession of place, pay and power.' I could quote until further orders, but I do not oboose to ask you to soil your paper with an overquantity of Billingsgate, so may remark that such was the style of this editor when writing about a man who, while, honestly serving the people, was Impoverishing himself, and who was the head of a Government which has the nation under immense difficulties and unscrupulous obstruction. For the greater part of two years a furious opposition, and 90 ont of 100 newspapers, tried their level best to ruin the credit of the Colony. That credit stands higher than that of any oolony, but it requires little or none. Tho Government, careless of Billingsgate, came victorious out of every opposition, and the deceased statesman leaves a record behind him such as no other New Zealand statesman left.

Bat, with the material at your dieposal, it is a pity no room should be left for a correspondent on the Bubjoot of the triumph of the Ballanoe Government Could not the last Hansard ,be brought forward? Would not the financial speech uttered by the dying statesman be as interesting as any other matter for lead, tug articles? Divided into sections for each day it would show the incompetency, blunders and scurrility of the Opposition. Mr Saunders' speech would furnish half a dozen leaders and expose the dodges of Sir J. Hall, Mr Beeves' speech was spoken in a style adapted to answer the mud.throwing of Soobie Mackenzie ! Quotations from the finance of Dr Newman, Messrs Allen, Richardson and Co., would be eye-openers to the electors. These snbjeots, treated carefully and truthfully, aided by the acts of hardworking Ministers, would so educate the electors as to the benefits conferred upon the people of New Zealand that no room would be left in your largely-oiroulatiog paper for letters written by an unwilling Looker-on.