MR BALFOUR'S RESIGNATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10305, 9 November 1911, Page 2

MR BALFOUR'S RESIGNATION.

The announcement of Mr Balfour's resignation of the leadership of the Unionist Party will not cause such surprise here as it appears to have occasioned in the OH Country. Mr Balfour is rot by any means a young man and his health lias been indifferent of late. Moreover, the position lie has occupied so long has been orio of extreme difficulty fcineo the last elections. The younger and moro ardent spirits of tlio party liavo shown a pronounced tendency to rebel against his moderate methods and liavo endeavoured to l'orco the party into a policy of aggression which Mr Balfour and the older leaders helieved to be ill-advised. The " Die-hard,s " and. tho " Last Ditchers " have given ]NIr Balfour no peace and tlioy have wrecked the Unionist Party, and as attempt after attempt to bring the .'■ections together failed completely, it Aras obvious that the eld organisation could not be ooutinued. That is the real reason of Mr Balfour's resignation. It represents the victory of the truculent younger division, and it leaves Mr Austin Chamberlain and Mr F. E. Smith in command.