CAMPAIGN ENDING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 990, 3 December 1910, Page 5

CAMPAIGN ENDING.

• «— 'ARTY LEADERS' SPEECHES. MR. ASQUITH ON THE REFERENDUM ISSUE, THE METHOD A FAILURE. iy Telegraph—Press Association—OoprrlEht. Received December 2, 10.30 p.m.) London, December 2. Mr. Asquith, addressing a gathering f five thousand at Wolverhampton on 'ariff Reform, stated that while tho lords were being rebuilt and tho mechnisrn for a referendum was being deeloped, ' with Tariff Reform on the helf, the Unionists would bo totally liable to make a binding bargain with ha Dominions at the coming Imperial !onforenca except with tho "if" of a eferendum. Tho Liberals objected to' a referendum, and it' was therefore pointless to sk whether they would submit Homo ?-ulo to a referendum. "My flirtations with tho referenlum," said- tho Prime Minister, "woro nade twelve or thirteen years ago in omparativo political immaturity. Since hen I have had a good deal of exlerienco. of its actual working in Swit;erland and in some of the American States, Canada, and Australia. I have low como to the conclusion that tho eferendum lias proved •in practico a nost disappointing and unsatisfactory ray. of ascertaining public, opinion. One >roof of this is the very small perlentago of votes polled, as compared vith a general election." THE OPPOSITION LEADER. INCOHERENT FURY OF THE LIBERALS. (Rec. December 2, 10.30 p.m.) London, December 2. Mr. Balfour, Leadei' of the Opposiion, speaking' at the railway sheds at leading, said tho only explanation of ;ho incoherent fury with which the ■eferendum was received was that tlie najority of the people wero in favour if tariif reform. ,Ho reminded the iritics that tho referendum was part if the free representative institutions •ecently given to tlio great Australian Commonwealth. Since the referendum ,vas actually in operation in one of tho >ister States of the Empire, ho could lot conceive why it was regarded as such a strange alien. The referendum jad not ruined Australia. Moreover, iho trade unions used tho referendum :laily. It did not ruin them. Every Lladical should welcomo it as fulfilling bis dearest aspiration, namely, consulting the people. He was painfully disappointed that his counter challengo that Home Rule should bo submitted to tho referendum had been treated with silent contempt SPEECH BY LORD LANSDOWNE. VALUE OF REFERENDUM. London, December 1. Lord Lansdowue, Conservative leader in the Houso of Lords, addressing a meeting of 9000 persons at Portsmouth, said- tho value of tho referendum—with which Mr. Asquith had flirted on various occasions—was that it focussed attention on points. Ho trusted that Mr. Balfour'had reassured a great number of moderates who would resent votes given on a Constitutional issue being used for Tariff Reform. CAMPAIGN SPEECHES. DUCAL ORATORS. London, December 1. The Duke of Norfolk, speaking at Coalville, Leicestershire, said Mr. Asquith claimed that the Lords' veto was tho only issue, but . there were otliei questions. The Liberals .were anxious that tho people should forget the possibility of invasion. That was a terribly real and anxious question. Tho Duke of Marlborough, in a speeel at Macclesfield, said ho was prepared t< be ruled by tho peoplo and do anything reasonable they wished, but he woulc bo hanged if he would submit to th< domination of his countrymen's enemies who cheered the British defeats it South Africa. Lord Ridley (Unionist), in a letter says he entirely approves Mr. Balfour'i declaration in regard to the referendum. - Lord Monson (Liberal) is supportinj Mr. Filmer, tho Unionist candidate foi Lincoln. Mr. W. Runciman, President of tin Board of Education, speaking at Dews bury, Yorkshire, said he favoured tw< Chambers, both answerable to the poo pie. Dr. Clifford, the Nonconformist lead er expresses tho wish that Mr. Lans bury, tho Labour candidate, will bi elected for Bow. "END 'EM, NOT REFERENDUM." MR CHURCHILL ON THE LORDS. London, December 1. Two hundred special constables guard ed Mr. Winston Churchill, Homo Sec Tetary, at Sheffield, whicb ho visited t< deliver a political speech. AH tli> streets near tho hall whero ho wa speaking were closed, barriers bein; erected. In his address Mr. Churchill said "Our opponents declare that wo aro oi the run, and that a general scuttle i commencing. Tlio Liberals rqplicd 'No quarter to' food-taxers and vote mongers —end 'em, not referendum.' " AUSTRALASIAN EXPERIENCE. London, December 1. Many references aro being mado o: political platforms and in tho news papers to Australia's referenda and th Now Zealand votes on local loans an tho licensing laws. ORANGEMEN'S APPEAL. London, December 1. The Loyal Orange Institution c England has issued an appeal to sui port every candidato upholding th Lords and opposed heart and soul t Homo Rulo and tho disruption of tb Kingdom.