Mr Ballance's Bad Memory

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 3000, 3 August 1887, Page 2

Mr Ballance's Bad Memory

A bathes remarkable correspondence has lately taken place in one of the Wellington newspapers which shows either that some Ministers of the Crown hare remarkably brittle memories, or that they will not permit too strict a regard for accuracy to stand between them and those ministerial salaries, travelling expenses, and other emoluments for which they so terribly hanker. It appears that the Hon J. Ballance, speaking on July 23 of this year at Taylorville, with reference to the liabilities of the natives to taxation, said; "In my opinion the time will shortly arrive when natives should be called npon to assume the same responsibilities as Europeans in regard to payment of rates, and he believed they would gradually accept the responsibilitiee as their titles became individualised.”

Whereupon a writer, signing himself “ Wellington,” pointed out in one of the Wellington papers that bis declaration of opinion was diametrically opposed to what Mr Ballance had said in 1885, when he declared, at a meeting of natives, that they ought not to pay rates, and that if they protested he would assist tbeir protest.

This called out a letter from “ One Who Knows ” —probably one of those two notorious characters who hare recently been disgracefully pitchforked into Government appointments in order that their unsavory pens may be available to whitewash the 'characters of their masters. “ One Who Knows” asserts that he is informed “on the best authority ” (the “ best authority ” must be Mr Ballance) “ that Mr Ballance never told them (the Maoris) that they ought not to pay Road Board rates at any place, and that the papers placed on the table of the House in 1885 show on the contrary that he advised the natives they should accept the responsibilities of Europeans.” Then “ Wellington ” replies to this grossly untrue assertion ox Mr Ballance’s scribe by publishing the following extract from Yol 11., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1885, (G. 1., p. 17). The words were spoken by Mr Ballance two years ago at a meeting of natives at Kihikihi:—

Mr Ballanoe.—l have learned from the speeches that were made today by the more responsible speakers that no one objeots to roads and railways. What they do object to is that the land should be rated on account of these roads and railways. I object to this Bating Act as much as Mr Ormsby or any other native present. I think it is unfair to rate land that is not in the condition of being used. The Government have the. power of proclaiming native lands subject to the Bating Act, and of course they may abstain from proclaiming land under the Act. I do not think any of this land along the line of the railway, or along the road* leading up to the railway, should he proclaimed under the Act,

“ John Ormsby.—Mr Ballanoe has said that his own opinion is that the Bating Act should not be enforced upon this land; not until snob time as something baa been done in the way of disposing of the land. Bow as far as 1 am personally concerned, I am folly with Mr Ballanoe on that point; bnt I would like it to be put in this way: not that we should be told that the Act will be left in abeyance, bnt that it will not be put over snob land. If it it pouibk for him to tign a document satisfying ns all that the Act shall not be put in force over onr lands, it will be well.

Mr Ball an ce.—Mr Ormsby has asked me to tell him at once that the Crown and Native Land Bating Act shonld not be put over the lands—that is to say, lor the railway and far the roads which lead to the railway—made for the use of the railway. I think that is a very proper request, and if Mr Ormsby will address to me a letter upon the point I will tend him an official reply, which will be ret corded in the department, which will be kept on record for future reference, and will be binding on future Governments.

“ John Ormsby.—People may ask which of the ten things we have brought before Mr Ballanoe today have been really agreed to by him and settled. One thing we are clear baa been settled by him [Mr BallanceJ —that the Bating Act will not be enforced in this district, because he has promised to answer a letter which we will write to him stating that it will not be done."

Mr Ballanoe.—l think I have put it beyond the possibility of even misinterprets-, tion.

At a time, when any assertion that tells against the Ministry or their supporters is “ replied t° " with filthy and unmanly language, it is not oq.t of place to show the extent of Ministerial veracity. Unfortunately this is only too easy a task.