Turning to Unionist constructive policy, Mr. Balfour laid stress on
the increase of small ownerships, Poor Law reform, and the strengthening of the Second Chamber by a repre- sentative element. Such a Chamber must be strong enough, in certain cases, to say that the people have to be consulted upon this or that great change. Lastly, there was Tariff Reform, which was not going to be a simple matter, a mere manipulation of duties, when they came in, but a policy intimately bound up with social reform and foreign affairs, and even more intimately with the whole future of the Empire. He hoped that our people would approach this question in the same broad spirit which had animated the Canadians in deciding against reciprocity. In fine, he declared that until a Government arose which recognized that it was as important to have a means of defending our commerce by treaty as it was by naval or military strength, and that we must bring the Colonies into a commercial system as well as a system of defence, our commercial future and the unity of Empire were being most seriously imperilled.
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