LOOKING FORWARD TO FINAL VICTORIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 284, 30 November 1944, Page 5

LOOKING FORWARD TO FINAL VICTORIES

K/iVCS REVIEW OF WAR

Will Augment Forces In Fight Against Japan

Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 29. The King, accompanied by the Queen, to-day opened the new session of Parliament. Their Majesties drove to the House of Lords in a closed car, and a guard of honour, formed by the Palace of Westminster Home Guard, lined the Royal gallery on the way to the Lords' Chamber. For the first time since the war began the traditional ceremony of searching the vaults of the Palace of Westminster was carried out by the Yeomen of the Guard The King, in his opening speech, said: "The United Nations look back on a year resounding with achievement. They new look forward with greater confidence than ever before to those final victories which will give to the peoples of the world the just peace which is our chief desire. In Western Europe my forces from the United Kingdom and Canada and their comrades from the United States, with the valuable aid of the armed forces of mj r European Allies and of the people who have risen to meet them, have routed the enemy in a series of decisive battles, and are pressing in on the borders of his own country.

In Italy and Russia "In Italy," His Majesty proceeded, "the forces of the United Nations have advanced to the northern plains, and in Greece and Yugoslavia the Germans are being driven from the countries they have oppressed for three bitter years. In the east the massive achievements of my Russian Ally have deprived the Germans of vast stretches of territory which they hoped wcmld feed their army and provide an impassable barrier to prevent the soil of Germany becoming a battleground. Both xn the east and the west Germany is becoming a battleground. Both in the east and the west Germany is invaded. The plight in which her armies now find themselves is the measure of the success which, by God's grace, has crowned our arms. "In the war against Japan the enemy has been. thrown back fi om India, and my American Ally continues to reduce the shrinking area which is still under Japanese control in the Pacific. We intend to reinforce as rapidly and powerfully as possible the United Kingdom forces who are now sharing with their comrades from all parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire and from the United States China, the Netherlands and France the burden of the struggle against Japan. "My navies everywhere have maintained their mastery over the enemy and achieved great success, in which my air forces have fully shared, in driving his surface and submarine forces from the seas. My air forces, in concert with the air forces of the United States have delivered increasingly heavy blows aeainst Germany and maintained their support of the military and naval operations in all theatres. Lhe successes of my armed forces would not have been achieved but for the devoted labours of those throughout the Commonwealth and Empire who have striven ceaselessly to arm ana equip them.

Unrolling Future? Events "The United Nations await with sober confidence unrolling future events. Joined in an unbreakable alliance and fortified by constant collaboration between the governments concerned and by frequent personal meetings between their leaders, they look forward to that day on which the aggressor will finally be defeated and the world turned t<? rebuilding, prosperity, and the maintenance of unassailable peace." Turning to domestic affairs trie King said: "Once, however, the war in Europe is over, the transition from war to peace will begin. My Ministers are actively preparing plans to ensure that, without in any way prejudicing the active process of the war against Japan, an increasing part of our resources will be made available for civilian production. They will try to create conditions favourable to the expansion of our export trade and the re-equip-ment of our industry, and maintain a high level of food production at home. They are considering methods by which the policy for the maintenance of a high level of employment can be implemented, especially with regard to the distribution of industry in development areas. Progress is being made in fulfil ling, the urgent tasks of providing additional housing accommodation and increasing supplies of civilian goods. My Ministers continue their policy of ensuring a fair distribution of the necessaries of life so long as there

are anv supunes.. His 'Majesty then announced plans for a comprehensive health service, an enlarged, unified scheme of insurance, a new scheme of industrial iniurv insurance, and a system of familv allowances. Bills for electoral reform and enlarged finance nowers for local authorities were also fores!iadowed._ Legislation was promised for making further nrovision for assistance towards the development of the colon'al Emnive hoth hv prolonging the neriod covered hv the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. 1940. an r i hv suhsfantiallv increasing the provision of funds authorised to be made under that Act.

HIS MAJESTY THANKED Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 29. The address of thanks to the King for his speech at the onening of the new session of Parliament was moved by Major Philip Sidney, V.C., who was making his maiden speech in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Commons. "We are at the beginning of the sixth war session," he said. "We can enter it with pride and thanksgiving in what our country has achieved. We can enter into our preparation and reconstruction with good hope that this session mav see the defeat of Germany, and Japan following her evil partner down hill into the abyss with ever increasing momentum." Mr. Arthur Greenwood, Leader of the Labour party, in his speech m the Address-in-Reply debate, saia: "I appeal to the House and the Government to make this session a session of dedication to public needs and the fulfilment of those promises jnd aspirations which the people of this .ountry so richly deserve to enjojr." The debate was then adjourned.