THE KING’S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 53, 25 November 1922, Page 5

THE KING’S SPEECH

CEREMONIAL OPENING OF PARLIAMENT IRISH LEGISLATION MAIN BUSINESS OF SESSION MEASURES TO AMELIORATE UNEMPLOYMENT ■ / ■ The King, in his Speech from the Throne at the opening cf Parliament, made feeling reference to the unemployment problem, Which later formed the chief subject of the Ad-' dress-ln-Reply debate. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. —copybight. London, November 23. The King, accompanied by the Queen ahd the Prince of Wales and the Puke of York, opened Parliament. Ths progress of the Royal Party through the streets was cheered by ' largo crowds. Special accommodation was provided for a party of Dominion school teachers. The Speech from the Throne referred to the Constitution of Irish Free ( State and Agreement Act. “It being required under the terms of that Act that the Constitution should come into force on December 6,” said His Majesty, “I have summoned you to meet In order that the legislation necessary to give effect’to that Constitution and to make provision for the consequential establishment of the Irish Free State may at once be submitted for your approval. “Trade and unemployment continue to cause deep concern, and the ameliorative measures prepared by the late Government are being examined afresh. You will be asked to make provision for their continuance and extension, and to guarantee a loan in accordance with the League of Nations’ scheme for the restoration of Austria. Negotiations for a settlement of the difficulties in the Near East are proceeding, and my, hope is that the efforts of my Minister, acting in whole-hearted co-operation with the representatives of our Allies, may result in the re-establishmenb of peace and the restoration of the security of the inhabitants of the regions which recently .have been the scene of so much suffering.” A of great earnestness was in the King’s voice when he was referring to the concern as to unemployment. The scarlet robes of the unusually large assembly of peers, the blaze of the jewels worn by the peeresses, and the varied ambassadorial uniforms combined to create a brilliant pageant. Judges, wigged and gowned, occupied the cross benches, and diplomatic representatives, including Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen, those to the right of the Throne usually re ; served for bishops. The Prince of Wales stood to the right of the Throne, and the Duke of York sat at the head of the ducal bench. Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Asquith were notable absentees. Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and Sir John Simon headed the procession of the members of the House of Commons into the House of Lords. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM COMMUNIST’S WILD THREATS (Rec. November .24,' 9,30 p.m.) London, November 23. • The Address-iu-Reply debate has opened in the House' of Commons, the motion being moved by Mr. Brass, member for Clitheroe, and seconded by Mr. Margesson, member for Upton. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, leader of the Labour Party, said the references in the Address to the subject were profoundly unsatisfactory to the Labour Party.' There was no sense of proportion; and no reat! appreciation of the terrible tragedy of it all. The streets still witnessed unemployed processions. Ono million three hundred thousand people still required ameliorative measures. He intimated his intention,, to move an amendment on tho question of unemployment. He appealed to Mr. Bonar Law, apart from the issues of the debate, to do something to allay the agitation gathering up in connection with his refusal to see a deputation of the unemployed. Ho hoped he would not take up a red tape attitude, but deal with the matter in a simple, common-sense way. He deprecated any suggestion that . Labour sympathised with Bolshevism. . . z Mr. Bonar Law said the Government would do nothing to give any excuse for going back on the Irish Treaty. Mr. Cosgrave had told him that Irish peace could be secured only by a loyal of the treaty 1 By both sides. / 'Mr. Bonar Law said he proposed to take first the Irish Bill on Monday and continue the discussion till it w’as completed. They would then resume the debate on the Address-in-Beply. Turning to unemployment, he thought one difference between him and the J.abour Party was that the Labour Party believed there wjs a surplus in the hands of capitalists which would supply all the needs of the unemployed, (labour cries of “Piffle”.) He must adhere to his decision not to seo the leaders of the' unemployment procession personally. (Cheers.) If he was in a position to make a special statement about unemployment he would be wrong to make it to any other body than the House of Commons. He said he would not refer to the Lausanne conference beyond saying that the Government’s one aim was peace. Up till now, ho ■ was thankful to say, there was every prospect of getting it by the only possible means, namely, by agreement between the Allies. He could assure the House he did not intend to stay in Mesopotamia or anywhere else because of oil»interests. He could assure the Labour Party they were anxious to do all in their power to protect the Christian minorities in the East, but they did not intend to do it alone. Mr. Asquith, speaking of the new Government, said Unionism was now dead. The new watchword of the old Unionist Party was now propounded by Mr. Bonar Law as tranquillity. He thought the premier would find,, that tranquillity was,not an easy virtue, but practise. Referring to Ireland, he was happy to think-" that she would soon be entirely responsible for the conduct of her own affairs. He expressed the hope that in the treaty he would find a "real reunion with Ireland. Ho advocated widening tho area of the Lausanne conference. An invitation should be extended to as many other Powers as possible. Mr. Newbold, the Communist memfew for Motherwell, condemned the Government’s attitude towards the undroployed. He added i “If they do ' net get) satisfaction they will have to

deal with, you as Cromwell .dealt with your predecessors.” Referring to the opening ceremony in the House of I.ords, ho exclaimed: “If they onljy spent less money on tomfool show. (Loud cries of “Order!”) Mr. Newbold withdrew the remark. The rest of his speech was punctuated with interruptions. . . , , _ Lady Astor said she was tired of, the Labour Party assuming that they were the only people Interested in progress. The evening was largely devoted to the speeches of new private members. Labour members complained of the callous indifference of the Government in not replying to Labour speeches on unemployment. Mr. Bonar Law explained that there would be a Labour amendment dealing with unemployment, and the Government would reply then. The House then adjourned. Labour Amendment. A Labour amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Reply, which Mr. J. R. Clynes will move next week, regrets that in face of the unexampled unemployment, largely as the result of the four years' mistaken policy for which the Government, as the dominant party in the late, Coalition, is responsible, there is no adequate equitable treatifient for the victims of that policy, including full recognition of what is entirely "a national obligation, nor any indication of a Change to enable European customers to buy our goods again so as tb restore international trade and stabilise 1 ' international exchange.” — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 / ; _____ IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS GRAVE POSITION OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Rec. November 24, 8.15 p.m.) London, November 23. In the House of Lords, Lord Erskine moved tho Address-in-Beply. Speaking as one who opposed the late Government’s Irish policy, ho hoped the Government would not allow tho present condition of Ireland to go on indefinitely, and that if after an adequate interval the Irish failed to repress murder and outrage the Government would take tho matter in hand firmly and re-establish law and order. He expressed sympathy with the unemployed, and'hoped they would not be led astray by extremists. 11 _ , Viscount Grey said the situation in tho Near East was menacing, and the only chance of getting through was by the Alliesi presenting a united front. The Government should go carefully into what commitments the Coalition Government had entered into with regard to Mesopotamia. It was only by strengthening the League'of Nations that they could produce a feeling of security enabling a reduction of expenditure on armaments. He said the future of Ireland was dark. He feared the British people did not realise the present gravity of foreign affairs. He was not sure whether wo had not already reached the point where Turkey, Russia, and Germany were oombinmg. s - Lord Birkenhead, referring to Labour’s election successes, 'said the efforts of all sane politicians ought to be directed against those who wanted to pull dawn the prop and pillar upon which our civilisation depended. That required all the resources of ,the new Government, whose main aims and hopes he intended to support. The Address was carried.-r-Aus.-N.Z. Uab'l Xssh. FRONT OPPOSITION BENCH „ DISPUTE BETWEEN LABOUR AND LIBERALS DAILY SCRAMBLE FOR SEATS PROBABLE ■ i London, November 23. A piquant dispute between the Labour Party and the Independent Liberals continues as the result, z of Labour persisting in its demand to the right to occupy the whole front Opposition bench and all the seats above the gangway. The followers of Mr. Asquith decline to consent to the demands, and Mr. Speaker has refused to intervene in support of the Labour Party. . There is also a dispute regarding accommodation in tho Whips’, room, which Labour hitherto shared with the Independent Liberals, each having a room. Labour is now determined to oust Mr. Asquith’s followers, who have the sympathetic support of the National Liberals. The front bench quarrel has gone so far that Labour members threaten to occupy permanently the front bench, so that there will be no loom for Mr. Asquith, Sir John Simon, and other Liberal ex-Ministers and Privy Councillors who sit there. When the House of Commons resumed after a brief adjournment, Mr. Asquith a.nd five of his followers secured seats on the front Opposition bench, and the remainder were filled with members of the Labour Party. /At present it looks as if there will be a daily scramble for .these seats. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Labour Party, insists that as Labour has been recognised officially as the Opposition, he must refuse to be relegated to seats nt the end bench near Mr. Speaker’s chair. He offered these seats to the Liberals. —Aus.-N.Z. Cabh Assn. THE NATIONAL LIBERALS APPROVE LLOYD GEORGE’S POLICY London, November 23. The “Daily Chronicle” states that a meeting of National Liberal ex-Minis-ters, Mr. Lloyd George presiding, generally approved the policy announced in the ex-Premier’s article. Most National Liberals agreed that the time was inopportune to play the party game. Mr. Lloyd George is unlikely to speak in the present short session unless his Irish policy is attacked. All part of the House of Commons cordially cheered Mr. Lloyd George on his arrival in the Chamber. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. November 24, p.m.) London, November 23. Mr. Lloyd George addressed a private of National Liberals and was re-elected leader. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.