HOUSE MEETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 7

HOUSE MEETS.

FEDERAL ACTION. Labour Attitude Expressed at Canberra. KING'S RESPONSIBILITY. CANBERRA, December 9. When the House of Representatives met to-day the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, briefly explained why Parliament had been cafled together, mentioning the constitutional crisis arising out of the suggested marriage of His Majesty. Mr. Lyons added that as the position was still uncertain a Parliamentary discussion at this stage could do nothing but harm. Mr. Lyons said, however, that he desired to inform the House that the Commonwealth Government had concurred in the decision of the British Government not to legislate for something in the nature of a morganatic marriage. Meanwhile, silence in Parliament was the best contribution toward a happy solution. Mr. J. Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, after asking that all the facts should be made available, said the Labour party insisted that there should be 110 coercion by the Ministers of this or any other Dominion upon the King in his choosing of a wife. "The King, on the other hand, must not ask Parliament for any special legislation to suit his convenience in choosing a wife," said Mr. Curtin. "He must choose a wife from the ladies who may lawfully be married to him as the law stands, and must accept the advice of his Ministers. "The Opposition will leave the King unfettered in his choice of a wife, but the King must accept full responsibility to his own conscience and the Empire in the choice he makes. The Australian Labour party hopes the King will remain upon the Throne. It desires to remain loyal to him, and will do so." The House adjourned until tomorrow.