TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3231, 7 November 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1881.

The persistent and unreasoning manner in wbich Mr Ormond is being vilified for the sake of advancing the preposterous claims to consideration of his opponent shows how much is relied upon the absence of knowledge on the part of new comers in the history of the colony in general, and of the Waipawa district in particular. It is needless for us to combat the misrepresentations that have been made in reference to Mr Ormond's public and private career ; we should hold it to be an iosult to the intelligence of the Waipawa electors did we think it necessary to refer further to the abuse and to the falsehoods that have been levelled at him. From the low-bred coarseness of an up-country print we turn to the columns of the Wanganui Herald for a report of Mr Ballance's speech to his constituents, where we find due honor done 'to Mr Ormond's services. At the conclusion of his address, Mr Ballance was asked whether, in the event of the present Government being defeated, he would be willing to go under Mr Ormond's leadership, or under any circumstances accept office in a Ministry with Mr Ormond. Mr Ballance said if Mr Ormond agreed with his principles he would go under bis leadership. There was one serious difference between them. Mr Ormond, in a speech he made in 1880, recommended the wholesale alienation of Crown lands. He differed from him on that point, but if Mr Ormond abandoned that and went in for conservation of remaining country lands he would have no objection to go under his leadership. With regard to whether he would take office in a Ministry where Mr Ormond was Premier, it was quite possible if he was asked that he might accept. If he thought it his duty to his party to do so probably he would. Mr Carson then asked whether the candidate considered Mr Ormond to be a Liberal, and whether he was not one of the broad-acred gentlemen referred to in Mr Ballance's speech. Mr Ballance replied that in some matters he believed Mr Ormond to be a Liberal, especially in regard to the action he had U ken in tbe Hoisse on behalf of small farmers. Mr Ormond held some I <5,000 acres of land, but be would not on that account say he was not a Liberal, for at home such men as Mr Gladstone and Lord Hartingtou were men of broad acres, as were many of those who supported the Land League. Mr Ormond, [however, was not likely to influence him (Mr Ballance) any more than he was to influence Mr Ormond. Mr Carson, enquired whether with the exception of Mr Ormond's difference with the Government last session Mr Ballance had ever known him to vote with the Liberal party. Mr Ballance replied in the affirmative, in the case of the small farmers. Mr Ormond, however, had generally voted with his party. Sometimes under pressure from the Opposition and public opinion tbe Government had introduced Liberal measures for which Mr Ormond had voted. Mr Carson further asked if Mr Ballance (should Mr Ormond command no following in the House) thought it desirable for Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan _ to return to power, and if so, would he join a Ministry in which they were members. Mr Ballance did not think such a contingency was at all likely to arise. There are three points in Mr Ballance's replies that may fairly be offered to the Waipawa electors for their consideration. First, that Mr Ormond belongs to the Liberal party, and is recognised by that party as a coming leader. Secondly, that he has by the course he has followed •in Parliament greatly assisted in the formation and advancement of smgll-farra settlements. Thirdly, the position he holds in the political world of this colony. We need not enlarge upon these points, but if any object is to be served by having a representative of reputation in the country and of acknowledged influence in the House, then Mr Ormond's qualifications are as "Lombard-street to a China orange" compared to those that may be advanced on behalf of his opponents.