Mr Balfour Resigns

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 119, 10 November 1911, Page 5

Mr Balfour Resigns

i HIS STRENGTH UNEQUAL. Bv fable —Press Association—Copyright. ' ( London. November 8. Mr. Balfour :in<»!i!ihi- resignation -of the leadership > f the ( o:i-crva- , tive Party at a hurriedly convmed meeting of the executive of the London Conservative Association. lie explained that, "while lie -would retain his seal, he desired relief from th:( increasing -train J of leadership. .'\ young leader was ri'i|iiiri(!. more capable of adapting himself to the IH-VV problems which wire perpetually arising. Hi- strength was uncoiia! .to cope with the coming crisis. His Wedieal advisers o|>posed hi- participation in »he Home Rule campaign. BOMBSHELL IX THE TORY ( AMI'. London, Xovember 8. Mr. Balfour's resignation fell as a bombshell In the Unionist camp, especially as he had carefully concealed any impatience at the recent attacks on his leadership, and the Halshury Club had even passed a resolution supporting his 1 and 1-oru Lansuowne's leadership in the ' coming struggle. j (MR. BALFOUR'S RESIGNATION'. r GREAT STATESMAN'S SERVICE. GENERAL ELECTION PROPHESIED. ' f Received 0. 1(1.30 p.m. London. Xovember it. A meeting of about forty bankers and merchants were not aware of the reason for the sudden call to gather together until Mr. Balfour's dramatic and unexpected statement as to his resignation. I With evident emotion Mr. Balfour referred to the ever increasing strain of his political life. Tf the fortunes of the Party rose, he would no longer have j the vigor to conduct a Ministry. He had been thirty-eight years in Parliament, and leader of the Party for twenty, whereof ten were as leader of the whole Home, a longer period than that of anV other Minister since Pitt. Only four or five Unionist M.P's. ever t worked under another leader. The in- ' creasing strain due to the Government expecting the House to sit for ten or eleven months, he feared would make it increasingly difficult to find men of adequate leisure and position prepared to undergo the great toils now attaching to politics. Probably the country was nearer to entrusting its affairs to those who. for quite worthy but on the whole Iws satisfactory reasons, were prepared to work the political machine merely as professional politicians. He believed the present was the best time to relinquLsh the leadership of the party. The present session was non-contentious. I 1 but Home Rule and Disestablishment were ahead, and before the end of next session there might be a general election. It was wrong that his succssor , should not have the interval to prepare for the fight. •' INTELLECTUAL PETRI FA! TIOX." THE DISOI'ST OF THE 'BETTER'' (LASSES. Received fl. 11..10 p.m. i London. Xovember ft. Mr. Ralfour said it was too »oon to take a gloomy view of the Party's prospects. "We are." he said, "on the upward grade. Critics and grumblers are like microbes. When strength is recovered the microbes resume their proper place and become comparatively iiino-u----ntts." The Government had lived oil electoral bribes for six years, and were now lapsing into the old Radical practice of destroying institutions by gerrymandering. There wet signs of the steadily growing di-gu-t of the better classes of the population. This was an inestimable advantage to his successor. He personally desired to leave his position of heavy responsibility before he suffered from the nio-t insidious of all diseases intellectual petrifaction which made a veteran less able to deal with new problems with freshness and elasticity than a younger man. lie was vain enough to hope he had not reached this stage, and he hoped to still have years of activity to devote, not only to the party, but to the country. Su-li services, however, must not impo-e the present strain. The meeting received the announcement with regretful silence, and after- i wards a resolution was can ed expressing satisfaction at his remaining a member for the City. WHO WILL SUCCEED? MAXY ASPIRAXTS- XoXK FIT. GREAT TRIBUTES To EMINENT LEADER. Received fl. 11.20 p.m. l/mdon. Xovember fl. Mr. Balfour only attended the Home Commons on two occasion- during the autumn >.-ion. and it is understood his medical advi-cr- have f..rbidd.n him to accept any po-ition of re-pon-ibilit v in a further adinini-tration. At a m.etinv of Uuioni-! M.l'.'- a) the Carlton Club on Monday it was understood a leader for their |'-mv in the Iloit-e of ( oimiion- would !■ ciio-en be ballof. the leadership remaining in al.ev- i a nee. The general opinion j. ,i M . lies between Mr. \V. Long and Mr. Austen Chamberlain, but it i- po--ihle (hey may compromise on Mr. Bonar Law. It is generally believed tTiilt the recent attack- delayed rather than hurried Mr. Balfour's '.-^tvion. The Hal-bury Cub on Mondat d a resolution tendern:; Mr. Lan-d.iwne tli'-Cr M--ur.ni-.' of lov-iT support. Xcwspapors of I;i ,rtios publish ap-

preciations of Mr. ivalfour's intellectual and moral qualities, and Unionists generally refrain from commenting as to a possible successor. The Standard asks if the decision is irrevocable, and the Daily Xews says there are many aspirants foi the leader's cloak, but none (it to wear it with Mr. Balfour's grace and authority. The Chronicle questions whether the hounding out of Mr. Balfour has had the effect of consolidating the Unionists. The Times says the resignation is received with little surprise but very great and genuine sorrow by an overwhelming majority. The decision may he taken as irrevocable. Mr. Balfour was not harrassed into resignation, and waited until the mutinous spirit of his Party had almost disappeared. Sir E. Carson is spoken of among the others mentioned as a possible successor. MR. A. CILAMBERLAIX'S TRIBUTE. MR. BALFOUR AXD TARIFF REFORM. Received 10. 1.15 a.m. London, Xovember 0. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, at a Tariff Reform League dinner, deplored Mr. Balfour s resignation. lie could testify from intimate conversation with Mr. Balfour that he was a. true friend and a determined supporter of tafiff reform, and above all of Imperial preference. Whoever was chosen to lead t-lie Unionists in the House of Commons must have the full and ungrudging support of every member of the Party.