The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1887. MR BALLANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2738, 31 October 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1887. MR BALLANCE.

jSifi. Julius Vogbl has been'extremely ! fortunate in having had as a partner in the late Ministry that, versatile politician, Mr John Ballance. The peccadilloea of the member for Wanjganui have apparently been bo numer-ous-that practically he becomes the ; scapegoat of a somewhat unscrupulous | Ministry. Sir Robert Stout is now [ out of cbuEti and it is .only fair.to say r. that were, he s, combatant in the ! political arena, his reputation has been worthy, of the-high office which he has filled arid if hie Ministry took crooked ;tuynsit wasnot because he instigated them to leave a straight course, \ but beoause he was.not strong enough, to' control them. ;Mr Ballance, it is said,; is in trouble, and it .'would be strange if he esoaped'it.' ' Almost eyery turn just now brings us face to face with some political jobbery for" which' )he' ex-Miniater of• Lands' is sa¥ to' be responsible. It is found, for example," that twenty Inspectors.of Police'are doing the work which ten officers of this grade are quite -competent to despatoh, and if we ask,why there is a double supply of these highly-paid functionaries, we are;told that Mr Ballance put them on. We know he filled the Native ;office;with a peculiar people who, through, his benevolence, have become state'pensioners; we are aware that ; ' he: sanctioned allowances to members of Waste Land Boards which bring tears of thankfulness into - the" eyes ! of;" certain lucky, individuals who benefit; by them. We might judging from danie rumor cite endless illustration's; of the liberal man ner, in which he • bas diffused public money amongst;hig friendUuriisg the past three years, but;the recital wonld perhaps serve, no good purpose. Apparently during': a period';.;when the Colony was drifting to the Sad, when thousands of men were out of employment, when a .'pbbr/rafef was being, initiated, Mr Plallance!.fre'ely. exerledhis influence to; aerve himlelf and ills friends. Verypahy qfr his admirers in this distriijfcjiegardlim as a herb, as one whojhas revolutionised. the native afara instills colonjyfnd possibly they|may regard the. extravagances whicht are attributed tepfe as but a. triijj|,.

hiatter, when ■ contrasted with the aeraoes which' they behwe; him to I have rendered. However, this may! be the question of whether Mr Ballance;' has been guilty of conduct • unworthy of the high office which he has. just vacated appears about to be ventilated. We are glad that such is the case. It i? time that the public we 5 .enabled by an :exhdUstive jnquiry-tp'.ascertam' -whether Mr Ballance is-'a man who-, has degraded a Ministerial-portfolio by •political jobbery, or whether the rumours which are so freely circulated at his expense are unfounded.