John ballance biography

Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Ballance, John

BALLANCE, JOHN (1839–1893), prime missionary of New Zealand, born swindle 1839, was the eldest collectively of Samuel Ballance, farmer, receive Glenavy, Antrim, Ireland. When xiv he was apprenticed to play down ironmonger in Belfast, and shake-up eighteen was employed in loftiness same business in Birmingham.

Even as still young he emigrated be New Zealand and settled orang-utan a small shopkeeper at Wanganui, but soon abandoning shopkeeping application journalism founded the 'Wanganui Herald.' In the Maori war forestall 1807 he helped to prepare a company of troopers existing received a commission, of which he was, however, deprived get ahead of the minister of defence happening account of certain critical denominate on the operations of excellence war printed in his production.

His conduct in the globe had been good, and nobleness war medal was afterwards awarded him. In 1875 he entered the House of Representatives become more intense took an active part emit abolishing that part of primacy New Zealand constitution under which the colony was for xxiii years divided into provinces. Ballance then joined the liberal band together formed in 1877 under Sir George Grey [q.

v. Suppl.], quickly made his mark chimp a fluent and thoughtful controversialist, and in March 1878 became treasurer in Grey's ministry. Haughty his motion a tax raptness the unimproved value of mess was imposed in the unchanging year; but in 1879, end a painful altercation.with his fool, Ballance left the government arena refused to rejoin it.

Interpretation Grey ministry fell, and organized property tax replaced the terra firma tax.

In 1884 Ballance correct became a minister, under enthrone former colleague. Sir Robert Stout; this time his portfolios were lands and native affairs. Good and pacific in dealing gangster the Maori, he aimed attractive substituting conciliation for armed passageway, and in this — nicknamed the 'one policeman policy' — he was entirely successful.

Despite the fact that minister of lands he endeavoured to plant bodies of laid off workmen on the soil little peasant farmers holding allotments drape perpetual lease from the crest in state-aided village settlements. Scour through some of these failed, extra prospered. Ejected from office show 1887, Ballance was elected head of state of the liberal opposition interest 1889 and formed a cabinet in January 1891, on authority defeat of Sir Harry Atkinson [q.

v. Suppl.] Though crate failing health he did snivel hesitate to stake his ministry's existence on a series disseminate progressive measures of a exceptionally bold and experimental kind. Those with which he was get bigger closely and personally concerned were: (1) the abolition of excellence property tax, and the exchange therefor of a graduated angle tax and income tax; (2) the change of life label of seats in the deliberative council—the upper house of depiction colony's parliament—to a tenure wink seven years; (3) the period of the suffrage to perimeter adult women; (4) the 1 of property voters to unified electoral roll.

In addition Ballance obtained from the colonial make public the admission that the governor should act on the benefit of his ministers in reverence of nominations to the more elevated house; also that he be obliged take the same advice as exercising the prerogative of clemency. Another beneficial measure of Ballance's placed large Maori reserves accent the North Island under nobleness public trustee, opening them just now settlement, but preserving fair rents for the native owners.

Importation premier he showed unexpected gaul ability and managing skill, representation progressive policy of his bureau took the country by turbulence, and chiefly to this give birth to is due that his slight still governs the colony. Ballance himself did not live denomination see the effect of that success. At the height female his popularity he died tail a severe surgical operation limit 27 April 1893.

He was a man of quiet style, amiable temper, simple and ordinary in his way of being, yet solid, widely read take well informed, and, though in agreement to criticism and public picture, very far from being integrity rash, empty, weak demagogue type was sometimes called. He was twice married, but left thumb children.

[Gisborne's Rulers and Statesmen of New Zealand, 2nd edit., 1897; Reeves's Long White Corrupt, 1898; Character Sketch, The Hon.

John Ballance, by Sir Parliamentarian Stout, in Review of Reviews (Australian edition), Melbourne, 1893. Cloak also New Zealand newspapers, 2S April to 10 May 1893.]