Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71

The Premier's Career

page 4

The Premier's Career.

This is distinctly not a biography of Mr. Ballance. It is not even a biographical sketch. History will record the various measures which he originated, and with which his name has become associated, aud history will record their effects, be they for good or ill. Suffice it to say that however much those who come after him in the government of the country, and in the direction of its legislation, may differ from his views and from his methods, there will be no drawing back. Every outpost in the march of progress has been entrenched, every frontier fully occupied, and the reformer of tomorrow will recognise the position of to-day, and will not seek to drive back the forces of reform, but rather to direct their further advance in consonance with his own ideas and his experience. "What is achieved has been conquered, and the army of occupation is in possession. But though there in not here any attempt at biography, it is necessary to an appreciation of the man to give some bald details of the various stages by which the son of an Antrim tenant-farmer, and the apprentice of a Birmingham ironmonger, advanced by the sheer force of his own character and ability, without extraneous aids—and in spite, too, of views in some respects entirety antagonistic to the feeling of the nation—to the proud position of ruler and law-maker to the most prosperous colony in the British Empire. The record is necessarily confined to what is but a procession of datess, but the dates serve as milestones along the road of progress; and some record is necessary as an object-lesson to every young colonist as to what persistency of effort, purity of motive, absolute fidelity to ideals, and overmastering industry, may accomplish without the adventitious aids of wealth, position, and influence.

Mr. Ballance was one of the many distinguished Irishmen who have taken a prominent part in the government of the colonies. He was born at Glenavy, County Antrim, on 27th March, 1839, and was therefore just over 54 years of age. His father, Samuel Ballance, was a tenant on Lord Hertford's estate. His primary education was obtained at a National school. On leaving school he was apprenticed to an ironmonger, and removed to Birmingham, spending eight years in that centre of Radicalism and home of self-culture. Here he took advantage to the full of the opportunities which the progressive movement, then seething in the great manufacturing town, afforded young men for self-improvement. He attended the evening classes of the Midland Institute, took an active part in debating societies, and contributed to the press, gaining thereby those powers of concentration aud direct expression, page 5 that facility of marshalling thought, and ability to most happily express it, which so many of our foremost novelists, orators, and public men have gained by passing through the crucible of journalism. But his culture at this time was not merely mental; it was also vigorously physical. A few short weeks ago there came to the Premier's residence at Wellington a gentleman who asked that he might be admitted to see Mr. Ballance. That was before the last journey to wanganui. He was met by the Private Secretary, Mr. A. M. Smith, who told him that Mr. Ballance was then too ill to see anyone. The visitor expressed great regret, said he was but recently from Birmingham, where he had been a friend of the Premier's youth, and it was an especial desire that he should see him. The Secretary was interested, asked for particulars, and discovered that not only had the future Premier been foremost in the Debating Club, but foremost, too, in the gymnasium, where he was known as a boxer of exceptional power, ability, and endurance. The lessons of force, tenacity, and good temper which boxing teaches he carried into after-life. Had he continued also the habits of physical exercise which were then associated with these qualities, the end might not have been yet. The Birmingham visitor ultimately saw his friend, who greeted him as cordially as in the days when they were youths together.

Moved by the yearning which his full life had produced, anxious to find in a new country scope for the aspirations and energies which were cramped in the old, Mr. Ballance left Birmingham at the age of 27, and sailed round the Cape to Melhuorne, whence he came to Wellington, intending to commence sheep-farming at Wanganui. This he found difficult of accomplishment without experience or capital, and so he started instead a jeweller's shop of a good class; but finding this was too advanced for the then stage of Wanganui civilisation, he abandoned it, and started the Wanganui Herald, to mould the destinies of the young community. The struggles incidental to the establishment of a newspaper were overcome at last, and its proprietor-editor gained a reputation throughout the colony as a powerful and incisive writer, and presently opportunity came for a more direct personal interference in public affairs, and the exercise of the readiness of debate learned in the mimic forums of Birmingham.

But it was not alone in the petty strife of local politics that the young settler showed himself ready to share the trials and bear the responsibilities of his brother-colonists. When Titokowaru and his tribesmen threatened the young community in 1868, Mr. Ballance called a meeting of his fellow-citizens, and at that meeting was formed the Wanganui Cavalry, which its promoter joined as plain Trooper Bollance, soon to rise to Corporal for his action at Nukumaru, and later to the rank of Cornet, when a summary stop was put to his military career. page 6 He had been contributing to his paper, from the front, descriptions of the campaign and its operations, and in one of these so strongly criticised the manner in which the war was being conducted as to grossly offend the powers that were, and Cornet Ballance was informed that Her Majesty no longer required his services. Years later, Her Majesty was pleased to call him to the Government of one of her brightest possessions, and would, had ho accepted it, have conferred upon the cashiered Cornet the distinguished order of Knighthood as a mark of her especial favour.

By 1873 Mr. Ballance had so far advanced in the political life of the community that he stood against the late Mr. W. S. Moorhouse and Sir Harry Atkinson for the Egmont seat, but retired, when his return was considered safe, in favour of the then Major Atkinson. In 1875, however, he entered Parliament for Rangitikei, and sat for that district until 1880, when lie was returned for Wanganui.

The rest of the story is familiar to every diligent, reader of those contemporary histories, the newspapers. The new member began at once to assume a notable part in the House, and showed especial interest in matters of local government. In January, 1878, he accepted office as Minister for Education ia the Grey Ministry, changing this to Colonial Treasurer in July. In June, 1870, he resigned his office, owing to differences with the Premier, He sat for Wanganui until 1881, when he was defeated by Mr. W. H. Watt by the narrow majority of four, but at the general election of 1884 he was again returned, by a two-to-one majority over Messrs. Watt and George Hutchison. In 1884 he joined the Stout-Vogel Ministry as Native Minister and Minister for Defence and Lands, retaining office till October, 1887. In the next year he became Leader of the Opposition, and in 1891 he was called to office as Premier and Colonial Treasurer—portfolios which he held till his death.

Mr. Ballance was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Taylor, sister of Mr. H. S. Taylor, of Wanganui. After her death Mr. Ballance married Ellen, daughter of the late David Anderson, of Wellington, in 1870. Throughout his political life she was in the fullest sense his helpmate and confidant, the partner of his triumphs and the sharer of his disappointments. Throughout his career she sustained him by her counsel and affection against every rebuff of fortune, and throughout those cruelly bitter months of his last trial she soothed every sorrow and assuaged every pain, nursing him with a single-hearted devotion and self-sacrifice which must ever remain as an example of wifely fidelity to duty. There were no children of either marriage, but there is an adopted daughter, Kathleen Anderson, a niece of Mrs. Ballance and a typical little Celt, who had entwined herself into the affections of her now father.