Abstract: A slide valve in which the valve member has an apertured interior partition extending in the direction of sliding movement of the valve member in a position intermediate a ported wall with which the valve member is engageable and a further wall of the housing containing a cavity, the surface areas of the partition on each side thereof being substantially equal, whereby fluid pressure inside the valve member is transmitted to the cavity through the apertured internal partition and acts on each side of the latter, thereby to hold the valve member in substantial fluid balance in a direction perpendicular to the ported wall and hence to reduce the force required to slide the valve member into and out of its operative positions.