SIR ARTHUR BALFOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1922, Page 3

SIR ARTHUR BALFOUR

VIEWS ON POLITICAL SITUATION

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION I (Received This Day at b. 30 a.m.) I ■ LONDON, March 7. , gj r Arthur Balfour, speaking at the City Carlton Club, was emphatically of opinion that the country’s interest would best be served by the Coalition. He would remain a member of the Conservative Unionists Party until he went to the land where parties no longer would interest him. The two , party system was admirably adapted ‘ to normal times, for the Government •of Emdand. That system implied a | fundamental agreement between the two parties, upon the great social verities which lay at the base of all civilised societies, hut the two party system was not one whereunder we could have won the war. It was not true that the Coalition was (Pit on one side. The points of difference between the component parties were old diffeiences, and had been submerged, The way the Irish question had been den with was an admirable Blustiration. Mr Balfour paid a glowing tribute to Hon. Lloyd George. No other man could have brought th's nation throng 1 the recent difficulties. They would not advance the country’s interests by abusing Hon. Lloyd George. The Irish treaty would help to make conditions m Ireland less intolerable than since the febeltion. We might nee Ireland a happy, contented integral part of the Empire. All circumstances pointed < the adviseableness of continuing indefinitely, the intimate friendly co-opera-tion which worked so successfully in the past. Ho had never belonged to a Government with greater unity arid an eagerness to carry out the national policy without attempting to gain petty party advantages. With the problems of unemployment and Indian and •Egyptian questions this was not a time for the disintegration of parties.