MR.BALFOUR'S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 978, 19 November 1910, Page 5

MR.BALFOUR'S SPEECH

SREAT RECEPTION AT NOTTINGHAM POLICY OUTLINED. rARIFF REFORM & WAGE-EARNERS HOUSE OF LORDS. HOW IT SHOULD BE REFORMED. "MR. REDMOND IS THE CONQUEROR." 3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. November 18, 10.20 p.m.) London, November 18. Mr. Balfour delivered his address to he National Union of Conservative Asociations at Nottingham l to-day. He iad. a stirring reception.' Many meniiers of the House of Commons and 'arliamentary candidates were present, ■nd the audience was . composed enirely of men. Mr. Balfour, who spoke for an hour lid a half, declared that tariff reform ras still the great constructive policy >f the Unionists. If it involved a mrden on the wage-earners ho would lot touch it. If it increased the cost f bread compensation would be given a regard to tea and sugar. "Wo aro trying tlio Dominions too liglily," lio said, "in deferring, indeinitely out response to the prelerence hey have bo gladly and generously ;iven." Tha.Voto Conferenco. Mr. Balfour went on to state that iad the Unionists at the Veto donfermce agreed to the only terms wliereon in agreement was possible, they would lave betrayed their cause. Ho next expounded the Unionist prolosals in regard to the land, Navy, md licensing laws. The Unionists roiild be false to their traditions if icy, did . not extond the system of vorkmen's insurance, which would ever >e associated with the name of Mr. foseph Chamberlain, to other-forma of ndustrial misfortune. ' . The second Chamber. The Second Chamber, Mr. Balfour iroceeded, should be diminished in lumber, and should- include persons vho were 'qualified by their, public service. There should also bo a peer>lected element, which would- carry on Jie traditions of the House of Lords. Another element should represent movenents and ideas, and great bodies of ixternal public opinion. These should ie equal to the number of peers siting by right of their services or eleclion, by their fellows. Amicable conferences or joint sittings could deal vith deadlocks, and the supreme arbitei should be the people. "Log-rolling Factions." "The Government," said Mr. Bal'our, "is going to destroy tho Constitution- in. obedience to the will oi Vmerican subscribers.. Mr'., Redmond s tho. conqueror, who' squeezes terms rom tlio conquered. If party governnent. has brought us te>' that degrada,ion, then tho party'sysiein liad broken lown, .arid we, aro no longer solf-govern-hg, but governed by' log-rolling fac■ions, .who caro nothing about tho Em)iro or the country/ REFORM PROPOSALS. DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS. -iORD ROSEBEIIY'S RESOLUTIONS By Tekfrapli-Press Association-dopyrisM. (Rec. Novembor-18, 9.50 p.m.) ' London, November 18. Lord Rosebory, speaking in -the Blouse of Lords, declared that the prinsiples of his reform resolutions would a a large extent solve the constitu<ional problem without convulsions oi continuous elections. Tho differences jetween the Houses were capablo oi settlement by conferences, and tho re'erendum, tho latter being resorted tc n acute cases. Lord Courtney declared that the scheme was such a phantom ono thai t could hardly, bo grasped by, any. raiional, man. Lord Selborne held tliat reforms were )ona fide. Thoro were no mental reservations.' It was impossiblo for one lalf the public to coerce tho other. Che Government was unable to. settle she question by their own ideas .alone. Lord Newton said: "Tho melancholj "act is that tho lot of us will have t< ;o." Lord Lansdowne said ho was prepared to support Lord Rosebery'i scheme. He attached great importance X), tho nominations by tho Government if the day. It would mean a mitigation of the. disparity of the streiigtl )f tho two parties. Lord Crewe said until tho Liberal: iad a voice in framing legislation, the liscussion of tlio details of the Reform of the House of Lords was futile. Lord Rosebery's first resolution wa-f :arried without division. Tho second vas not discussed,, and was withdrawn )n the ground that it was too detailed, It is announced that Lord Crewe wil movo that tho Parliament Bill be icac i .Second time on Monday next. The cablegram probably means that tin first group of Lord Kosebery's resolution! (Nos. 1, 2, and 3) mere carried, and tin second group (Nos. -f and 5) were with drawn. The resolutions are as follow (1) That a 1 strong and efficient Secoric Chamber, an integral part of the Constitution, is necessary for the well-being of the State and the -balance of-Parliament. (2) That such ci Chamber can best b( • obtained by tlio reform and recon struction of the House of Lords. (3) That a necessary preliminary t( such reconstruction is the accept anco of the principle that the pos session of a peerage' longer o: itself gives the right to sit and vote in the Houso of Lords. (1) That in future the House of Lords shall consist of Lords of Parliament j (a) chosen , by tho whole boelj of hereditary peers among themselves; (b) nominated by the Crown (c) sitting by virtue of offices and qualifications;" and (d) chosen from outside. (5) The term of tenure of all sliali i bo the same, except in tho case ol thoso sitting ox-officio, who shall sil so long as they hold the office wherefor they sit. THE BUDGET. HOW WILL THE IRISH VOTE? (Rec. November 18, 9.30 p.m.) London, November IS. Tho "Chroniclo" says it would afford she Liborolß profound -satisfaction if ,ho Budget wore passed beforo the dissolution, It depends, .upon Mr, As-

quith's. announcement how the Irish will voto on tho Budget. "RUSH" METHODS. LIBERAL MEMBER SECEDES. (Rcc. November 18, 9.30 p.m.) London, November 18. Mr. J. D. Roes, member of tho House of Commons, lias seceded from tho Liberal party because tho leaders are attempting to rush tho Single Chamber and Homo Rulo proposals. THE KINC AND THE PREMIER. RESULT OF THE INTERVIEW. London, November 17. One result of tile 'interview between King Georgo and Mr. Asquith. and the Earl of Crewe is that the House of Commons will discuss the Budget while the House of Lords is debating the Veto question. Mr. Asquith promises to make an important pronouncement at the National Liberal Club on Saturday. NATIONAL UNION OF CONSERVATIVES. UNALTERABLE OPPOSITION TO HOME RULE. London, November 17. Tho National Union of Conservatives at Nottingham approved of, Lord Lans.downo's action with regard to reform of tho House of Lords and tho exclusion of tho hereditary element. Resolutions were, passed approving of fiscal reform, including colonial preferonce, and small ownerships of land. The Union also passed a resolution, declaring its unalterablo opposition, to Home Rule; Modification of the licensing duties and the abandonment of tlio two-Power standard for tho Navy were condemned. HOME RULE ALL ROUND, "AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF REFORM." > , IF WAR OCCURRED? . London, November 17. The Scottisli National . Committee, composed of members of the Houso of Commons, resolved that Home Rule for Scotland is an essential;element of constitutional reform, and that the final settlement must include national selfgovernment. Mr. Samuel (?) speaking at Dublin, said if war occurred under Homo Rule all round, how could Ireland and Wales be compelled to contribute in tho absence of an Imperial Executive? Had there been a Welsh Parliament led by Mr. Lloyd-Georgo at tho time of tho Boer War, it would, liko an Irish Par- ' liament under Mr. John Dillon, havo ; refused to contribute a- penny to tlio cost.