THE KING'S SPEECH

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 4219, 16 February 1921, Page 2

THE KING'S SPEECH

PROBLEMS OF BRITAIN. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.} (Aust,-N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 16, TO a.iri'.) London, February 10. The King's Speech at the opening of Parliament/earn;stly hoped that the coming conference of fhe Allies in London would result in further progress, in giving effect to the treaties oi peace, the re-establishmenF'of concord in Europe, and restoring tranquility in the Near East. His Majesty- also hoped that the negotiations for'a trade agreement with Russia would be successful. He was glad-that arrangements had been made to renew personal consultation with Cabinet Ministers overseas amxl their. British colleagues, which [traduced such good results during the last two years of the war and during the period of the peace settlement. He. felt confident that the discussions i would he of the utmost value in. bringing about a co-ordination of both the external and the internal policy of the Empire. The Estimates would reflect the Government's determination to reduce expenditure to the lowest level consistent with the. Enroiro's well being. !t was imperative that the nation's burden should "be reduced to the utmost extent in the interest- of an early revival of trade and industry. -The King added.!) "Arrangements' lor bringing into force th 0 Government of Ireland Act were now Veil advanced. I earnestly trust that the majority of the people will show a determination to repudiate violence and work under the At*." The nios-t pressing problem confronting Parliament was the unemployment consequent on a worldwide restriction of trade. This might be alleviated, but could not be cured by legislation. A Bill will be introduced <;xtending provision for unemployed untie" the Franloymont Insurance Act. Another Bill would deal with safeguarding essentia"! key industries against certain aspects of unfair-Slid abnormal industrial competition. It. was proposed to follow the, removal of the coutrol of Homo m'ie?s for coal by completely restoring the coal industry to its normal condition of freedom. ' : , t '.-:;" Later. The Speech foreshadows a Bill to deal with the liquor traffic, in the light of the experience gained during the war. It is hoped to submit proposals for a reform of the House of Lofds this session. Also a Bill for the reorganisation of the railways.

CROWD LOVES CEREMONY. Dense crowds lined the Royal route to Parliament. The people showed. that they still loved tile picturesque pre-war ceremonial, which was revived in its entirety, excepting that bayhorses were substituted for the cream Hanoverian ponies in the King's; State coach. The Life Guards and other bands wore their elaborate pre-war uniforms, while Guards, in their scarlet. and bearskins (headgear) lined the route. The Spanish, French, Japanese, and Italian Ambassadors journeyed im state coaches. King George, with his two sons, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, were everywhere heartily acclaimed by the crowds-. His Alajcsty was attired in a Field Marshal's uniform, s - The Prince of Wales for the first time in public, wore the full uniformof a Colonel of\ the AVolsh Guards; .with a bearskin. Through the King's forethought, crippled soldiers and orphans of soldiers occupied a reserve space outside Buckingham Palace. Invalided troops were similarly accommodated at other;, points.