13 MAY 1911, Page 2

On Thursday, in the Albert Hall, Mr. Balfour presided at

the annual demonstration of the Primrose League. He began by noticing the apparent agreement on both sides that the country should possess two effective Chambers. Another doctrine as to which there was apparent agreement was that the people should be the final arbiters in every political con- troversy. The difference, however, between the two parties was that, while the Liberals did only lip service to these principles, the Unionists were prepared to abide by them. Mr. Balfour went on to say that he did not want a reformed Second Chamber, or any Second Chamber, in order to put obstacles in the way of the will of the people being carried out. It was in order to secure that the will of the people should prevail that the Second Chamber was required. Lord Lansdowne's Bill had his hearty support. The promoters of that Bill had gone as far as it was possible or right to go in the direction of change, unless the Second Chamber were to be made the equal, if not the superior, of the Lower Chamber.