THE REFERENDUM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1046, 8 February 1911, Page 5

THE REFERENDUM.

—: « ,< -STATEMENT BY MR. BALFOUR, By Telegraph—Press Assocmtion-Copyrislit. (Rec. February 8, 0.25 a.m.) London, February 7. Mr: Balfour, speaking at .the Constitutional Club's banquet to / the neiv •Unionist members of the House of.Commons, repeated bis pledge that tariff reform, would not bo enforced without being first submitted to the people. The referendum.ought to be a permanent part of the Constitution not only for dealing with. gravo differences between tlio two Houses, but for settling certain .other questions which it would be inexpedient tj withdraw from the people. Tlio Referendum, however, was not the proper machinery for dealing with ordinary Budgets. l'ho Unionists did not less strongly favour preference, to the colonies because of the proposed agreement between Canada nml the United States. In the memorable speech on Xovembei 29, llr. Balfour electrified an immense .audience in the Albert Hall, by his emphatic declaration that he had.no objection to submitting Tariff Reform to tbf Referendum. He said:— I 'frankly' say that without question Tariff Reform is a great change. I admit that this election, or any election, perhaps—certainly this election —eannct. be described as taken upon Tariff Iteform simply: but.l have not (lie least . objection to submit the ' principles of Tariff Iteform to Refer- ■ endum. After all, apart from the technical difficulties to which I have • mado allusion, why should I object? (Cheers.) Is Tariff Reform in our ; opinion a project of taxation iii the interests of individuals or classes? ("No.") If Tariff Reform is an\\thinp it is a great national and Imperial policy. (Cheers.) That is what I believe it to be. and I am perfectly ready to submit it to the iudgment of my countrymen. (Cheers.) * The first sentence was scarcely finishcf when the audience rose to its feet in : tumult, of theering. which was reiiewc( with scarcely less vigour when Mr. Bal four halted that the samo test of Honn Rule would bo a "quid pro quo."