MR BALFOUR'S LEADERSHIP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9053, 31 March 1908, Page 4

MR BALFOUR'S LEADERSHIP.

In the House of Commons Mr Balfour's supremacy (says a writer in "Blackwood's") has remained unchallenged. He is an easy master of that complex assembly. He judges its temper with an accuracy which only a long experience can ensure. He possesses a perfect knowledge of the rules and reforms which govern the deliberations of the Commons. It is not too much to say that, though he no longer sits upon the Treasury bench, the business of the present Government (such as it is) could not be carried on without his intervention. Since the time of Sir Robert Peel no statesman has held so lofty a position of authority unquestioned on either side. But, while he is ready to put his unrivalled experience at the services of the House, he does not forget that h 9 is the Leader of an Opposition whose business it is to oppose. He has harried the forces of the Government without pity and without rest. He has attacked them with all the powers of damaging criticism which are peculiarly his own. A master of fierce contempt as well aa of merciless logic, he can alternate argument with satire. That the Government of Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman has fallen so speedily into the pit of discredit is due almost entirely to the tireless energy and watchful brain of Mr Balfour. The mistakes of the. disjointed rabble which attempts to govern our countrv are all its own. It is to Mr Balfour's credit that no single misdeed escapes the notice or risks the misunderstanding of the people. '

The Registrar-General has issued a series of tables dealing with tha progress of the dominion. Amongst others is one relating to the private wealth of the State. The figures are remarkable. In the year IS9I the privates-wealth was estimated at £145,781,000, which rose to £170,008,000 five years later. A decade thereafter (in 1906) it had advanced to £304,.654,000—an increase of £134,646,000. Another return gives the estimated value of production for 1905-6. This shows the net agricultural produce for the year at £6,163,895; pastoral, dairy and poultry produce, £15,882,132';. mining produce, £3,871,99!;; maarafeetures, £6,636,120; and miscellaneous, (including fisheries and forestry) £1,761,251—0r a total for the year of £34,315,389. The value of the building trade, industries not included in manufactories,, and general labour, is estimated at £6 ; ,.8'3'8,380, making a grand total for the year mentioned of £41,153,769'.

From a table of estimated 1 w-age-earn-ings of the people prepared' *rom last census returns (1906) —whfch have just Deen issued from the Government Printer—some interesting infor-mation-is to be gathered. The number of male wage-earners in the dominion in April. 1906, wa5"227,083, the aggregate earnings amounted to £21,539,900, and the average annual earnings was a fraction over £94. The female wage-earners' numbered 63,189, their aggregate; earnings amounted to £2.671,200;. anwJ the average annual earnings to a fraction over £42. In the male division ithe wage-earnings under the heading "Industrial" top the list with £8,025,800. "Agricultural, pastoral, mineral and other primary producers" coming second, total £4,.663,600; "commercial" takes third place with £3,361,400; "transport" is fourth with £2,616,200;; and! professional fifth with £1,769,.6«0. Domestic service in the male division only accounts for £531,400, in wages. Turning to the femaie division we find the domestic earnings greatly preponderate over those of any other occupation the sum being £1,029,300. "Industrial"'' takes second place with £(314,200,. and professional third place with £538,100. Commercial wages do not reach half the latter amount. The aum-total of the wage-earnings of the people (male and female) of the dominion in 1906 was £24,211,100 —ma1e5£21,539,900, and females £2,6tf1,,200.