The waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3097, 21 May 1892, Page 2

The waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1892.

F.nual and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Both: Sir George Grey and Mr Ballance have been again interviewed and the results published It has now become a recognised practice that leading politicians shall place their views on current questions before the public by this means. The interviewer is a useful institution both to the politicians interviewed and the public. It enables the former to put forth feelers before the time for action arrives and the latter through the agancy of the Press to consider the policies indicated. The public approach questions aside from political party, it mattters little to them which set of men draw official salaries and exercise the patronage which appertains to office, so long as mistakes are avoided. The bringing to bear of public opinion, confirmed or created by the arguments urged by public writers, is the surest safeguard against error. Mr Ballance has expressed himself as very indignant that Sir William Jervois should have applied the term "demagogue" to those who unquestionably by their exertions during the last general election, placed him in power. These men were for the most part prominent trades' unionists, who if not leaders of the rabble, as the term strictly implies, had just previously led large sections of the working classes to seriously injure themselves by obedience to their dictators, and at the same time to strike a severe blow on the commerce of the country, which was just recovering from the depression which it had long suffered in sympathy with that of the whole world, rather than from any internal cause, unless it were the enforced limitation of the expenditure of borrowed money, and the burden of interest which had to be borne. Mr Ballance and his supporters threw themselves into the arms of these men, and guilty knowledge of this fnnfchns no doubt

loci the Premier to fit Sir AV. Jorvois' cup on his own head and that of his colleagues. In searching for a reason why the cap was made, ho has descended to a lower level than it should bo possible for a man in his position to reach. Ho attributes to the late Governor that his remark was promptod bv revenue on the Government for not appointing him Agont-General or recommending him for a second term of office as Governor. His words were: "These facts may have something to do with his present opinion or rather his statement about 'demagogues.'" Men, as we know, aro prone to measure other people's corn bj' their own bushels. Are Mr Ballance's actions governed by motives akia to those which lie is so ready to attribute to a gentleman, who, during his term of officei n the colony commanded the respect of all classes? The Premier's attempt to explain away his remarks or attack on Sir George Grey is exceedingly weak, he gives as the actual reason of his remarks, to use his own words:— " A rumour had been brought to my notice to the effect that the Conservatives hoped to get Sir Geo. Grey's assistance to strike out the tax for improvements abovo £3000 in value. My object was simply to show that they were not likely to receive Sir G. Grey's support in that direction." Let us refer back to the language lie did use on the occasion. "As for Sir George Grey if he does attack us as he is said to intend on the question of taxing improvements over £3000 in value, he will surely make himself ridiculous . . ■ If lie attempts such

a course lie can be crushed by a few speeches." What does Sir Geo. Grey say 011 the matter ? In reply to a question as to the truth of the rumour that he would assist those opposed to the Government policy to strike out the tax on improvements, he said: " Everybody must have known that I would do that — that I would go in for getting that tax struck out." Mr Ballance must be included in the term everybody, hisremark therefore that Sir George would make himself ridiculous was made in anticipation of the event, not as a means of emphasising his disbelief that it would happen. Events which are matters of history go to show that Mr Ballance is not inclined to evice much respect for the man who by his ability and persistency has made it possible for him to hold his present position. Sir George's remarks to hip interviewer in reference to the improvements tax are to the point: "I cannot make out what Mr. Ballance means. I do not understand what he has said. I really do not understand how people who dislike a tax on improvements, as he says the Government do, should impose such a tax." The sting of the reply is, " as the Government say they do." This is tantamount to_ saying that ho does not believe him; neither does any man who has listened to or read the Premier's speeches. It is only a few days since he stated that if the tax had not the effect of bursting up the large estates, he and his party were prepared, to increase it. The plea, therefore, that it is to be imposed most unwillingly be3ause of financial necessity can only be accepted by those who do not believe in his former statement. Surely this is a disgraceful position for a Premier to place himself in. Unfortunately, the disgrace is reflected upon the colony. If the Premier is such a man, what must the people be like. He has earned for himself a much stronger term of obloquy than that of Demagogue, which he claims had been applied to him. He said the other day: "We have gone almost the whole distance in substituting the Land and Income Tax for the Property Tux. We have gone, in fact, much further than our friends could nave hoped for, for we have laid the foundation which will enable our system to be carried out to its full completion, and be made perfect in time." If we are to accept the Premier's avowals, in his opinion, perfection will only be attained when the land is nationalised, and every man the tenant of the State. In other words, when every freeholder has discovered that he was in error in believing that that which ho has paid for is his own property. The taxation of i mprovements is the first move in that direction.