THE KING OPENS HIS

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 7

THE KING OPENS HIS

FIRST PARLIAMENT.

GLITTERING SCENE.

Biggest Crowd Cheers Royal Procession. LEGISLATION FORESHADOWED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 26. On a beautifully sunny morning, King George, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth, opened the first Parliament of his reign. The occasion attracted the biggest" crowds ever J known for a State opening. Their Majesties acknowledged the greetings of the multitude en route to the House of Lords from Buckingham Palace.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, was unable to be present owing to an attack of gout. His place in the House of Commons to-night will be taken by Sir John Simon. The House of Lords presented a brilliant spectacle with peeresses wearing fur coats over their evening dresses and displaying glittering tiaras. Princess Elizabeth was the first to make obeisance to His Majesty, and Princess Margaret accompanied her, both hatless and wearing rose pink coats. The King read the Speecn from the Throne slowly, without hesitation and with only one or two pauses. Friendly* Relations With Foreign Powers. His Majesty said: "My relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly. I have invited the King of the Belgians to visit me in November, and the King of Rumania in the spring of 1938. "My Ministers have followed with growing concern the continuance of the I conflict in Spain. It is their aim to do everything possible to assist toward the restoration of peace among the Spanish people. They believe that I strict application in non-intervention will materially contribute to this end. "The position in the Far East will continue to engage the earnest attention of the Government, who will persist in the policy of attempting, in co-opera-tion with other Governments, whether members of the League of Nations or not, to mitigate the suffering caused by the conflict and bring it to a conclusion. "I am looking forward to the time when it will be possible to visit my Indian Empire." Expansion of Defence Forces. His Majesty referred to the expansion of defence forces, which, he said, was progressing rapidly. He rejoiced to knr>w that the outlook for trade and industry remained favourable. The Government would continue to encourage industrial activity at home and develop overseas trade. The Speech foreshadows legislation dealing with protection against air raids, coal royalties, distribution of electricity, milk and fish, earlier pensions for blind, study of the population problem, appointment of more divorce judges, slum clearance, rural housing, and a variety of other matters. The Labour party will table a noconfidence amendment to the Address-in-Reply.