Editing John Ballance (section)

==Member of Parliament==
{{NZ parlbox header|nolist=true|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |electorate = [[Rangitīkei (New Zealand electorate)|Rangitikei]]
 |party      = Independent politician
 |start      = [[1875 Rangitikei by-election|1875]]
 |end        = 1876
 |term       = 5th
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |electorate = Rangitikei
 |party      = Independent politician
 |start      = [[1875–1876 New Zealand general election|1876]]<!-- election held on 5 January 1876 -->
 |end        = 1879
 |term       = 6th
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |electorate = [[Whanganui (New Zealand electorate)|Wanganui]]
 |party      = Independent politician
 |start      = [[1879 New Zealand general election|1879]]
 |end        = 1881
 |term       = 7th
}}
{{NZ parlbox break}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |electorate = Wanganui
 |party      = Independent politician
 |start      = [[1884 New Zealand general election|1884]]
 |end        = 1887
 |term       = 9th
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |electorate = Wanganui
 |party      = Independent politician
 |start      = [[1887 New Zealand general election|1887]]
 |end        = 1890
 |term       = 10th
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |electorate = Wanganui
 |party      = New Zealand Liberal Party
 |start      = [[1890 New Zealand general election|1890]]
 |end        = 1893
 |term       = 11th}}
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Ballance first contemplated moving into national politics in 1872, putting his name forward as a candidate for the seat of [[Egmont (New Zealand electorate)|Egmont]] in a [[1872 Egmont by-election|parliamentary by-election]]. However, Ballance withdrew from the ballot before the vote was held.<ref name="Ballance DNZB" /> In 1875, Ballance entered [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]], having won [[Rangitīkei (New Zealand electorate)|Rangitikei]] in [[1875 Rangitikei by-election|a by-election]]. He campaigned on two major issues – the abolition of the provinces (widely regarded as incompetent, petty, and obstructive) and the provision of free education. Ballance soon made his presence felt in Wellington. The abolition of the provinces occurred in 1876 under [[Julius Vogel]]—after which Ballance turned his attention to promoting closer land settlement, considering it the main political issue of the day.<ref name="Ballance DNZB" />

===Grey Ministry===
In 1877, Ballance entered the cabinet of Sir [[George Grey]], a former [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor]] who was then Premier. Grey's policies were not closely aligned with those of Ballance, but Ballance believed that he could nevertheless accomplish something worthwhile. He was Minister of Customs, [[Minister of Education (New Zealand)|Minister of Education]], and later [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Colonial Treasurer]]. His appointment to head the treasury was a surprise to most, giving a high office to a relative newcomer on the political stage.<ref name="Ballance DNZB" />

On 6 August 1878, Ballance delivered a financial statement, which was seen as the most significant since the public works announcement by Julius Vogel in 1870.<ref name="Ballance DNZB" /> Ballance set about reforming the tariff system by removing duties on basic necessities and introducing a modest though somewhat symbolic land tax, an idea he later revisited. His alliance with Grey ended with a notorious and very painful quarrel. Ballance found Grey far too controlling and authoritarian, resigning his portfolios yet still gave him confidence in the house.<ref name="Ballance DNZB" />

From [[1879 New Zealand general election|1879]] Ballance represented [[Whanganui (New Zealand electorate)|Wanganui]], but in [[1881 New Zealand general election|1881]] he lost by just four votes (393 to 397), and it was reported that seven of his supporters were too late to vote as their carriage broke down.{{sfn|McIvor|1989|p=105}} He returned to Parliament for Wanganui in [[1884 New Zealand general election|1884]].

===Stout Ministry===
[[File:John Ballance (Photo).jpg |thumbnail|left|Ballance in around 1880]]
On re-election as an Independent in 1884, Ballance became a minister in the [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]] of [[Robert Stout]], a fellow liberal. He was Minister of Lands and Immigration, [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Minister of Defence]] and [[Minister of Māori Affairs|Minister of Native Affairs]] (relations with Māori). In his role as Minister of Lands he encouraged intensive settlement of rural areas, aiming to increase the number of people leaving the cities to "work the land", which he believed was essential to increase productivity and self-sufficiency. His system of state-aided "village settlements" – small holdings were leased by the Crown to farmers and money lent them to make a beginning of building and cultivation – was generally successful.{{sfn|McIvor|1989|p=112–114}}

Despite this desire for increased settlement of colonist-held land, he strongly supported the rights of Māori to retain the land they still held – many other politicians of his time believed that acquisition of Māori land was essential for increasing settlement. He reduced military presence in areas where strong tensions with Māori existed, and made an attempt to familiarise himself with Māori language and culture. In 1887 Stout's government lost the [[1887 New Zealand general election|general election]], but Ballance remained popular. Illness initially prevented his full participation in politics, but with his recovery in [[1889_New_Zealand_Liberal_Party_leadership_election|July 1889]] he became [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]].{{sfn|Reeves|1901}}