MATTERS POLITICAL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 61, 9 September 1895, Page 2

MATTERS POLITICAL.

THE POLICY OF THE LATE HON. JOHN BALLANCE. (Letter No. 1.) TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — Before entering on the discussion of the above policy I wish to make a few preliminary remarks. In the first place I disclaim any animus against either the late Mr Ballance or against any of those who are now carrying ont his policy. I have sat next to Mr Ballance day after day for weeks in a committee room of the House of Representatives and I have listened night after night to the debates of 1891 and 1892, therefore it must be allowed that I have been in a position to form an opinion on the subject I am writing about. Whether my conclusions are right or wrong I leave to the judgment of those who are kind enough to wade through all I write. I have also had an intimate acquaintance with many of the members of the present House with whom I have discussed the political problems of the day. The late Mr Bal* lance I ever found to be quiet and observant and a hard worker. In the House his manner and hearing were admirable. He had a wonderful com. mand of bis temper under the most trying circumstances. His uniform courtesy is well known. As I said in a former letter on political matters I should stand for the Rangitikei district next election under certain conditions. One of the two conditions is that if no oue else comes forward who is prepared to stand up boldly against the present Socialistic-Georgian legislation. I know personally fifty or more of the present members of the House and of that nnm< ber not more than thirty are well read men, who are capable of grasping the full force and bearings immediate anil remote of the various Bills put before them and on which they have to vote* Many of them are guided almost solely by the party whips. They can talk and tickle the cars of electors with platitudes and catchy phrases, but apparently when elected do not care a fig for principles which are swallowed up in party. I say, therefore, if some gentle* man will come forward prepared to fight for principles and not party, provided his views are founded on true and not false bases, then I should no| oppose him but would willingly do all in my power to get him returned. As for myself it would neither be an honor nor a profit for me to be a member of the House. The history of all honest politicians in New Zealandhas been that they have neglected their own personal and family interests by being members,' because they have practically to give up; their whole time to reading and studying the problems of the day an£ in attend* ing to the wants and requests of their constituents. The other condition on which I would stand I will tell verbally to any settler who asks me personally. I am, &c., Geo. Wilks.