MR BALFOUR’S SPEECH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 5

MR BALFOUR’S SPEECH

PRESS COMMENT ON REFERENDUM DECLARATION.

LONDON, November 30. Commenting on Mr Balfour’s speech at the Albert Hall on Tuesday. ‘ -The Times” says that his political opponents thought Mr Balfour lacked courage to mibmit the question of Tariff "Reform to the judgment of the country. iiio Unionist leader never received a- m&re enthusiastic or unanimous proof that he had the whole audience with him. The "Daily Mail” (Unionist) applauds Mr Balfour’s declaration, which proves that the Unionists trust the people, and enables Freetraders to vote against the Government. The "Daily Express" (Independent) Bays Mr Balfour rallied and inspired all tho forces of Unionism. Tho "Daily Chronicle*' (Liberal) dodares that if the referendum docs not involve a change of Government, thou good-bye to the whole system of parly government. The "Daily Nows" (Liberal) considers that tho cancellation of Parliament's commission hy repeated referenda would be the antithesis of representative government. HASTINESS DEPRECATED. Tho "Morning Post" (Unionist) expresses itself doubtful about the wisdom of Ufr Balfour’s hasty pledge in regard to the referendum. Such a change, it declares, would have farreaching consequences. Hitherto a general election had permitted a Government to carry its policy, but it wae now suggested that an additional mandate should be required. The "Daily Telegraph" (Unionist) declares that Mr Balfour has struct dismay into the coalition. Tariff reform cannot rest oh anything except' .the undoubted approval of a settled majority of tho nation. Mr Bonar Law and Mr George Wyndham, in their ci!eoti6a. speeches, applauded Sir Balfour’s declaration. DEVICE TO BLIND THE PEOPLE. The "Westminster Gazette” (Liberal! eaye ..the Tories uproariously , welcomed tho referendum as a dewoce enabling them to escape from the presumed unpopularity of tariff reform, while permitting them to capture votes on the plea that they were ardently iu favour ®f taxing the foreigner. The paper adds; "The referendum Would enable a Government to remain in office, though defeated on solitary questions."