MR BALLANCE'S RESIGNATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 309, 4 July 1879, Page 2

MR BALLANCE'S RESIGNATION.

AN-EXCITING SCENE.

Per Mail Special Wire

Wellington; June 30. Referring to Mr Ballance's resignation, tho Chronicle the following, as a plain unvarnished tale of the facts:—" In preparing the Estimates, the Treasurer removed the salary of Mr Fox from the Treasury Department because Mr Fox did not work especially for that department. Mr Fox is Secretary to the Cabinet as a whole, and also Secretary to the Premier, and the Treasurer in drawing up his Esti-. mates charged the salary of Mr Fox under its proper head: When the Estimates were forwarded to tbe Premier for revision, he sent for the Colonial Treasurer, and asked in a very rude way why the alteration had been made. Mr Ballance then told hitn he made the alteration because he thought that every item should be charged to its proper account. The Premier said that Mr Ballance persistently insulted him; that he made him "blush," and went on to indulge in very acrimonious language to the Colonial Treasurer. Mr Ballance calmly replied that he had never intentionally insulted the Premier ; that he had drawn up the Estimates in the way he thought best; but that he was perfectly willing to make any alteration the Premier wished for, as that was only the jough draft of the Estimates, and it bad yet to be revised in Cabinet. The Premier had now completely lost his self control, and he continued to rave at the Colonial Treasurer in a most offensive manner. Mr ■ Ballance being then put on his mettle, told the Premier that the matter was purely a departmental one not a question of policy, and he being responsible for his Own department, claimed the right to manage all purely departmental matters in .his own way. The Premier said he could not hear of such a thing, he must have absolute control ot every item in all the departments, and that he wanted the Treasury "for himself." Mr Ballance said if that were so he must resign ; that was the only solution of the difficulty. Sir -George said 'Do bo, and I'll ■ resign too.' Mr Ballance said—' Be it so' and turned to leave the room, but as he was getting near the door, Sir George shouted in a most offensive tone 'Leave the room, Sir.' Hearing himself addressed as a lacquey of the Premier, the Colonial Treasurer turned back, and looking firmly at Sir George, said,' I will not leave the room till it pleases me.' The Premier, pointing to the door, again B'iouted 'leave the room, sir.' Mr Ballance still refusing to go, the Premier shouted out 'Then I will send for a messenger and have you turned out." *'I don't care if you send for twenty messengers,' replied the Colonial Treasurer, looking calmly at ths> enraged Premier. Sir George then seized: his hat and,rushed, out of the room. . Tne messenger did actually come to "eject" the Colonial Treasurer, but was met at the door by Mr Sheehan, who ordered him off. •Jjwo minutes later Sir George sent his private secretary to see if Mr-Ballance had the Chamber/ ; Mr * Ballance was -still there, talking of tbe strange conduct ef the Premier with the Native Minister j who had been present ihe whole time. Half an hour before he was sent for by.Sir George Grey, he received a telegram from Colonel Whitmore, who is in Auckland, stating that one of the Auckland .papers had just published an "extra" containing sensational newp about a dissolution in tjiej Cabinet. Mr Ballance telegraphed back to Colonel Whitmore, telling him to give this an unqualified denial, as there had, been no disagreements in the Cabinet. This shows that Sir George Grey's insulting conduct to the Colonial Treasurer was prearranged, and.that he had given intimation .of .what was 'going' to happen. Sir George Grey moreover has been in the : h'ablt of receiviug anonymous letters from parts of the Colony, complaning of the action of bis ■> colleagues. This is wholly unconstitutional and unprecdented. W T e understand the, Minister for Public works arid the Native Minister have both threatened.to resign. Mr Ballance having relieved himself of his duties as a member of the Cabinet, will at once proceed to Wanganui to attend to his private business till a day Or two before the opening of Parliament.