The Sun THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1928 “A.J.B."—STATESMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 10

The Sun THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1928 “A.J.B. "—STATESMAN

THE Eaxi of Balfour, when he was plain Arthur James, once * told, the late llr. Massey (in the presence of the writer that he admired Xew Zealand for two good reasons: First, because it represented the perfect country of his imagination and, secondly, because ownership ox an estate in the Wairarapa was one of his best investments. And that is the man and the basis of liis wise philosophy. He loves the beautiful and the best in life, has enjoyed a generous share of both, and gives little heed *o the worst except to shrug at the follies and fury of democracy. And yet it has been his loyal service as an aristocratic politician and his brilliant work as a democratic statesman that have won for him, in full measure and with a rare sincerity, his nation’s admiration and its Empire’s respect. Of whom, among living statesmen, could it be said without extravagant praise, as it was so said of Lord Balfour yesterday by the Prince of Wales, also prince of felicity: “One who is honoured and loved by all who speak the English tongue the world over ? The occasion of that tine tribute was a representative national celebration of Earl Balfour’s 50th birthday. Eighty ! And the recipient of honour still plays a game ox tennis as well as he can draft a protocol or prepare a treatise on moral philosophy, and, incidentally, in both exercise a deft, subtle swerve. About the only change that time has wrought on the man is that the six feet two inches of his height in early manhood has been reduced, by the inexorable law of gravitation, to six feet one. That and the snow of years upon a philosopher’s head are the only outward and visible signs of age. He still retains the charm of his youthful personality—rather an aloof charm, it is true —and, as in more provocative political times, has a winning an an appealing address. Much of Earl Balfour s work as a statesman may fairly be described as the greatest service of its kind to his country in his time. Xo other man living can claim a better record or anythin:? quite as good. For several of his earlier years in the hurly-burly of British polities this godson of the great Duke of TVellington appeared to be hampered by his flair for moral science. On that profound subject he had taken high honours at Cambridge and. as most people know, moral science in polities is an odd force and a singular, almost an embarrassing, gift. He spoke but seldom and was looked upon by the foolish ones as a dilettante, doomed to a pleasant obscurity, never likely to be hailed as a serious politician. Temperamentally he was classed among the aesthetic cult, and satirised mercilessly by Du Maurier and Gilbert.

In the early ’eighties ”A.,T.8.” (as best known then) began to demonstrate that he was the nephew of the Third Marquess of Salisbury, with all the instincts, and political intellectuality of the Cecil Conservatism. He attached himself to the small band of independents led by Lord Randolph Churchill. With them he acquired the deviltry of untrammelled opposition, and enjoyed attacks on the lion of Liberalism, Gladstone. When Gladstone fell Lord Salisbury succeeded, and Mr. Balfour became Chief Secretary for Ireland. For the sake of harmony even now let us curtain that period of his administrative career. He chastised Ireland, and honestly believed that the chastisement was for Ireland’s good. And’the years ran by like a turbulent stream; Tariff Reform, the Irish problem, and so on. What a medley of conflict! Through it all Arthur .James Balfour was sustained by the science of moral philosophy. It did not desert him when he became Prime Minister —supremacy without popularity—and it was his shield and buckler through the long crisis of the World War and at the Paris Peace Conference. -And to-day, he is the Empire's supreme statesman, devoted to music, to philosophical literature, to golf and tennis. A great man, a man to ponder over and admire.