The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY, 12, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 530, 12 January 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY, 12, 1878.

Tue most effectual censorship of the Press is that exercised by the Press itself ; and it is the fear lest they should hold themselves up to reprobation that sways most newspaper writers. But there are some men, who, either from inexperience, ignorance, or worse, are constantly falling into error, and to correct whom on every occasion would earn for those who attempted it the reputation of possessing a carping spirit. Notwithstanding the liability of laying ourselves open to snch a charge, we shall endeavour to pursue a course which is admittedly so salutary in its effects upon careless writers or literary fledglings, who, in aiming too high, invariably come to grief. These ro-

marks are called forth by the publication of certain statements regarding Mr. Ballan'CE, the member for Rangitikei, in the Dunedin Herald. Mr. Ballance has been viewed by the Press of the Colony—by those sections, at least, whose opinions are of any value —since his entry into Parliamentary life, as an eminently useful public man who had a bright future before him. With long journalistic experience, commenced in a new district, and surrounded at the outset by all the difficulties attendant upon newspaper enterprise under unfavourable circumstances, Mr. Ballance emerged from private into public life a man well fitted for any position that the country had at its disposal. His own successful career, wrought out entirely by his own hands, and dependent solely upon his own natural ability and energy, is an earnest that he is what he has been represented to be, and—we regret to say it —there arc few men in the House of Representatives that for information, cleverness, and political honesty can compare with him, and a great number who are only fit ta act as his lackeys. No one who has watched Mr. Ballanoe'.s Parliamentary career can assert that his conduct has not invariably been characterised by wisdom and fairness. When the iniquitous Native Land Bill was brought forward, he at once perceived that it was a measure that would perpetuate the wholesale robbery of the Colonial estate and pauperise the country, and he, after having been the principal instrument in its consignment to oblivion, as speedily seized an opportunity of severing all connection with a Ministry that had forfeited all claims to his confidence and aroused the gravest suspicions of colonists. From thattimche wasconsistently opposed to the Atkinson Ministry. This occurred early in August last. Whilst he supported the Atkinson Ministry he did so substan-

tially; but when for very cogent reasons he felt compelled to secede, he was as strenuous an opponent. Mr. Ballance's views upon the land question and taxation are those of the whole couutry from North Cape to Invercargill, excepting the horde of monopolists who, for self aggrandisement are opposed to him. He objects to the superior advantages for the acquirement of land which have heretofore been enjoyed by a class who have become wealthy through the negligence—to be charitable—of our rulers to conserve the landed estate ef the Colony. He is a strong advocate for the framing of a law giving everybody equal facilities for acquiring land ; and, indeed, for encouraging the settlement and prosperity of men of moderate capital. The following extract from a speech made by Mr. Ballance during the Native Land Bill debate, which occurred early last session, will clearly demonstrate that gentleman's views upon this great question ;

"Will anyone tell me that a person with small means coining out from England can «o into the market and compete for landthat he will fathom all tho trickery and chicanery which we know is necessary in order to acquire Native land ? Will anyone tell me that the small settler can acquire laud under this Bill? I say that the whole history of the Colony shows this, and no one can deny it, that, as against the settler of larce means—who can employ different means'in the way of bribery— thermal] settler has no chance in the world. This is the universal opinion, Now, we find North Island and South Island capitalists at the present moment engaged, as far as they possibly can, in preventing the settlement of the West Coast of the North Island ; they are acquiring thousands of acres of land in the Murimotu Plains. Will any one tell me that this is in the interest of settlement, or that under a proper Act this could have been allowed to take place ? I have been over that land, and I know that it is at the present moment nearly the only available land'in that part of the Island fit for settlement. This is the kind of work which has been carried on under the Native land Act of 1873. The enormous speculators and capitalists employ a great number of Native agents, and thus debar the men nf lesser means from a fair chance of acquiring any land whatever," What will be the utility of the millions that have been expended on immigration and public works if our landed estate is frittered away for a mere song? Our railways will run principally through the possessions of colonial lords, whilst the people will have to pay the interest on the money botrowed to construct them. This is the condition into which the Colony has been drifting for many years, until some of its most valuable portions have been alienated for ever for considerations so paltry that the Colony has scarcely felt any pecuniary advantage therefrom ; whilst the fact that the majority cf these large areas of country have been left for years in a state of nature, awaiting their increase in value, lias had a depressing effect upon the Colony calamitous to the multitude to the enrichment ot a few, Mr. Ballaxce's views on taxation, to.i, are in acooi with those held by the people, and wuiiU tend to equ-iiiae t!:o burden v.-iiie!; the (Ji.'.-.ny has now to bear. Ji' Mr. Bai.i.anci-: is unlit for the position to lie lias just been called, there is not a member in the Government who should bold a portfolio. He will be a tower of strength to a Ministry which has been greatly strengthened by the voice of the people ; for there is no man who can lay to his charge selfinterested motives in accepting the position which was offered to him. The accession of a Wellington member such as Mr. Baluxce to the Ministry will secure for it a permanancy that can only be affected by a very considerable amount of chicanerv.