THE HOME ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9679, 31 December 1909, Page 7

THE HOME ELECTIONS.

CONFUSING ISSUES,

Cabled progress reports of the political battle now beginning in Great Britain suggest that the electors are in danger of becoming politically bemused if thay listen to an multitude of conflicting counsel. For instance, Lord George Hamilton and other leaders of the Unionist Freetrade Club are advising their fellow-members to oppose protection and Home Rule; but as protection is the Tory policy and the Liberals propose what is indicated as Home Rule, the only thing for the puzzled elector to do in face of this counsel wuuld be to refrain from voting, except that even by i>ing su he would not be opposing cither thing. As to Ireland, Mr Asquith's reference to a scheme undtr w'nich pure- ' ly local affairs would be managed locally is scouted by the Sinn Fein organisation as oncd more consigning real Home Rule to the tomb. Yet Mr John Dillon has just told the Irish people that for 30 yeara they have had no cuch^ opportunity of striking a blow for the freedom of Ireland as will be given in the mxt three years, and at the same time warned them that if the Tories triumphed at the general election they would want a great deal more money from Ireland than the Liberals would. Mr Balfour admits that the House of Lords is capable of reconstruction. But most of his friends in the Chamber would be ' just as strongly opposed to that as j to Lord Portsmouth's notion of making it a senate. When the Lords ; are given their real place'in the quar- ! rel. however, the position is clairi- j fied. If Mr Balfour and other Tory j commoners really believe in reform- j ing that Chamber, they are advoca- i ting the Liberal policy, 'the. only one that is likely to materialise in reconstruction. The Tories have been petted and their political opponents thaw ted by the Lords for half a generation, during which period the party in the House of Commons never whispered a word about reform Is it Lkely that they would do anything 3 to effect it now, wnen by taking such a course they would deprive themselves of an always reliable irre--8 sponsible majority in the other House and sacrifice some of their best pola itical friends. The House of Lords is a Tory institution and possession, and "tariff reform" is a device to - prevent reconstruction of the Lords and the taxing of the peers along with other wealthy people. That ) states the question and crystallises the issue, as the people of Great Britain doubtless perceive very clearly.