It will thus be seen that the large number of interesting experiments sanctioned by the New Zealand Parliament since 1890 involved few new departures or startling changes of principle.  The constitution was democratic:  it has simply been made more democratic.  The functions of the State were wide; they have been made yet wider.  The uncommon feature of the last eight years has been not so much the nature as the number and degree of the changes effected and the trials made by the Liberal-Labour fusion which gained power under Mr. Ballance at the close of 1890 and still retains office.  The precise cause of their victory was the wave of socialistic, agrarian, and labour feeling which swept over the English-speaking world at the time, and which reached New Zealand.

[Illustration:  THE HON.  JOHN BALLANCE]

The oft-repeated assertion that the Australasian maritime strike of August, 1890, was not only coincident with the forming of Labour Parties in various colonies, but was itself the chief cause thereof, is not true Colonial Labour Parties have, no doubt, been influenced by two noted strikes, themselves divided by the width of the world.  I mean the English dockers’ strike and our own maritime strike.  But the great Thames strike may be said rather to have given a fillip to Colonial Trades Unionism, apart from politics altogether, than to have created any Party.  As for the other conflict, though the utter rout of the colonial maritime strikers in 1890 undoubtedly sent Trades Unionists to the ballot-box sore and with a keen desire to redress the balance by gaining political successes, it was not the sole or the chief cause of their taking to politics.  Before it took place New Zealand politicians knew the Labour organizations were coming into their field.  The question was what they would do.  The Opposition of 1889-90, though not without Conservative elements—­the remnants of a former coalition—­was mainly Radical.  It had always supported Sir George Grey in his efforts to widen the franchise, efforts which in 1889 were finally crowned by the gain of one-man-one-vote.  And in 1889 it choose as its head, John Ballance, perhaps the only man who could head with success a Liberal-Labour fusion.  A journalist, but the son of a North Irish farmer, he knew country life on its working side.  His views on the land question were not therefore mere theories, but part of his life and belief.  Though not a single-taxer, he advocated State tenancy, as opposed to freehold, and his extension of village settlements had made him amongst New Zealand workmen a popular Lands Minister.  Experience had made him a prudent financier, a humane temper made him a friend of the Maori.  His views on constitutional reform were advanced, on liquor and education reactionary.  In Labour questions apart from land settlement he took no special part.  He was an excellent debater and a kindly, courteous, considerate chief.  In Ballance and his followers in 1890 New Zealand Labour Organizations found a ready-made