The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1882.

Temuka Leader, Issue 924, 2 March 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1882.

It ia wonderful how circumstances alter cases. When Mr John Ballance, the late Member for Wanganui, was Colonial Treasurer, no language which the Christchurch Press could had in its vocabulary yras strong or vile enough to point out his incapacity to fill that position, but now that he ia out of the House it turns round arid says that he is the only member of the Opposition that understands finance. If Mr Ballance was not a good financier when in office, how ia it that he can be a good, financier now ?■ The fact; is, that since the first iparliament of New Zealand there, never- was submitted to, the House of Representatives, a. financial statement more explicit or more intelligible than that which Mr Ballance brought down when he occupied the position, of Colonial Treasurer, It was, the. only financial statement that was ever properly understood, and very probably that ever will be until he brings down another., Mr Ballance is certainly one of the ablest, the most consistent, and the most straightforward politician in New Zealand, and it is a great loss to the colony that he has not bean returned to Parliament. His chances, however, are not yet at an end. He has petitioned against the, return of Mr W. H. Watt, on the grounds of bribery and conuption, and the probabilities are that he will win the case and be declared elected by the judges. His defeat was the result of an accident. On the day of the po'ling seven of his supporters were coming into town from some distance, when the trap in which they were being driven capsized, and they were too late to, record their when they arrived. As the majority of Mr Watt when elected was only three, if th,ese seven voters had arrived in time the scales would have been turned in favor of Mr Ballance, and ha would have been elected. Morally, therefore, he is tbe choice of the majority of the. electors in his district, and if the judges find that any undue influence haa. been, ysedj to secure Mr Watt’s election, they can do nothing but give the seat to Mr Ballance. There is consequently some prospect of Mr Ballance being a. member, of the. House of Representatives before Parliament meets, and we must say that we would be very glad to, -ee.it, not because we agree with him politically so much as that we believe he would be an ornament to, the House, and an acquisitipn to the colony at large. He is a man of broad liberal views, on all questions, and there is no doubt that he is the best financier in the House. How it was that Mr Watt had ever the courage to cojp.e forward against him, or obtained so much support we cannot imagine. He is infinitely inferior to him so far as intellectual capabilities are concerned, and has had very little political experience. It is to be hoped the judges will reverse the decision of the Returning Officer, and put the right man in the right place.