EXIT MR BALFOUR.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 276, 10 November 1911, Page 5

EXIT MR BALFOUR.

HIS LEADERSHIP OVER

RESIGNATION REC EIVED WITH REGRETFUL SILENCE.

[PRESS association copyright.] London. Nov. 9. The meeting was at tended by about forty bankers and merchants, who were not aware of the reason of its sudden 'all until Mr. Balfour’s dramatic and unexpected statement.

With evident emotion he referred lo the e:er increasing strain of political life. It the fori ones of the party rose he would no longer have the vigour to conduct a Ministry. He had been thirty-eight vears in Parliament and the leader of his party for twenty, for ten of which he had been leader of the whole House This was longer than any Minister since Pitt Only four or five I'nionist Comti.oii -rs had ever work ed under another leader. The increasing strain due to the Government expecting the Commons to sit ten or eleven months was such that he feaied it would be increasingly difficult to find men of adequate leisure for the position and prepared to undergo the great toils now attaching to politics. Probably the country was nearer entrusting its affairs to those who, for quite worthy but on the whole less satisfactory reasons. were prcpaied to work the political machine merely as professional politicians. He believed that the present was the nest time f< relinquish the leadership. The present session was non Content ions, but Home Rule and disesl ablishment were ahead, and before the end of next session there might be a general election. It would be wrong that his successor should not have an interval ti; prepare for the fight. Continuing. Mr. Balfour said that no one should take a gloomy view of the party's prospects. They were on tlie upward grade. Critics and grumblers were like mie’-obes. When the body’s stiength was recovered the microbe resumed its [ roper place and became comparatively innocuous. The Government had lived by electoral bribes for six years and was now lapsing into the old Radical practice of destroying institutions and gerrymandering . There were signs of a steady growing disgust among the better classes of the population. This would be .in inestimable advantage to his success):. Personally. he desired to leave a position of heavy responsibility before he suffered from that most insidious of all diseases, intellectual petrification, which made a veteran less able to deal with new problems with freshness and elasticity of a younger man. He was vain enough to hope that he had not yet reached the stage, but it would be miserable to run the margin too fine. He hoped still to have years of activity to devote not only to the party, but to the country. Such services, however, would not impose or. him tiie present strain.

The meeting received the announcement with regretful silence, and afterwards passed a resolution of satisfaction at Mr. Balfour's remaining the member for the City.

EXPRESSIONS OF GENUINE SORROW.

London, Nov. 9.

It is generally believed that the recent attacks delayed rather than hurried Mr. Balfour's resignation. The Halsbury Club on Mondaypassed a resolution tendering Mr. Balfour and Lore! Lansdowne an assurance of its loyal support. The newspapers of all parties publish appreciations of Mr. Balfour’s intellectual ami moral qualities. The Unionist papers refrain from commenting on his successor. The

'Standard'’ asks if the decision is irrevocable. The “Daily News” says that there will be many aspirants for the leader's cloak, but none will wear it with, Mr. Balfour’s grace and authority . The “Daily Chronicle” questions whether the hounding out of Mr. Balfour will have the effect of consolidating the Unionists. “The Times” says that the resignation will be received with little surprise, but with very great and genuine sorrow l»y the overwhelming majority. The decision may be taken as irrevocable. Mr. Balfour was not harrasseil into resign.'.;ion. He waited until the mut’nous spirit of the party disappeared. The choice oi ins successor lies between Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Long, Mr. Bonar Law, and Sir Edward C arson. Lord Lansdowne denim, the rumour that he intends to resign.

.Mr. Austen Chamberlain, at the Tariff Reform dinner, deplored Mr. Balfour's resignation. He could testify from intimate conversations that Mr. Balfour was a true friend and supporter of tariff reform, and above all of Imperial preference. Whoever was chosen to lead the House oi" Cc-mmons must have the full and support of eve ry member of t he party.

I A BALLOT FOR THE I.EADERI SHIP. | London. Nov. 9. i It is understood that the leader of tiie party in the House of Commons | will be chosen by ballot, the leaderi ship as a whole remaining in abeyance. The general opinion is that the choice lies between Mr. W. H. Long and Mr. Austen-Chamberlain, but it is possible that Mr. Bonar Law may be selected as a compromise. I NDER DOCTOR'S ORDERS. Mr. Balfour has only attended the House of Commons on two occasions I during the autumn session. It is j understood that his doctor has for- ; bidden him to accept a position of ir< 'ponsibihiy in any future admin- > i't ration.