BRILLIANT SCENES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10738, 8 November 1928, Page 6

BRILLIANT SCENES.

;; ■'CPENING" OF [ PARLIAMENT,

A BIG: CROWD. GREETS KING.

• INDICATIONS FOR LIVELY ; ' SESSION. ■ . Ghifced. Pres* iAssn. by El. Tel. Copyright ;<Australian Press AssooUdon.i LONDON, Nov. 0. . Parliament duly opened with the historic ceremony;- commencing with the Yeomen bU.the Guards-carrying candle 1 lanterns and searching the labyrinth of cellars for a' possible Guy Fawkes.. ft Big crowds in the Mull and; Westminster . greeted the King, though the heavy fog interfered with the military guard. Fortunately, it began to • lift before their ; Majesties .left Buckingham Palace, so Londoners - %yere not deprived of the spectacle, of five carriages of State, each drawn by four -bays/ and escorted by Life Guards. Meanwhile, the Peers,., robed in scarlet ermine, and peeresses, wearing- tiaras, gathered in the gilded Chamber.. The Duke, of York took a’ ; seat in the front bench immediately Below the Throne; The gaiety of the scene was increased by the-uniforms of the ambassadors and several Indian princes and’ their wives in the galleries. 'Mr Baldwin and Mr Bamsay MacDonald entered the House of Lords,-just before the royal procession. . - THE KING’S SPEECH. Tho King’s. Speech expresses great satisfaction with the signature to the’treaty for the renunciation of war at Paris on August 27. It says: “In pursuance of its fixed policy, the Government has continued to accord full support to the League of Nations, co-operating with all its current activities, and particularly has sought to fully dis charge its obligations under Article 8 of the covenant by reducing' its armed forces to the lowest point consistent with national safety, and by assisting tho League to formulate plans for a general reduction of armaments. An agreement has been reached with the governments of Belgium, France, Germany,’. Italy, and JKipan. for the opening of negotiations with a view to definitely settling the problems of reparation. It also has been recognised that negotiations should be held in regard to the German Government’s request for the, evacuation of the Rhineland.” GOOD WISHES TO JAPAN.

Referring to the coronation of the Efnperor of Japan His Majesty takes the opportunity of wishing His Imperial Majesty a long and glorious reign. The speech says: “The historic Anglo-Japanese friendship has always been a potent factor for the maintenance of peace in the Far East, and I welcome the efforts of China to establish a stable government and cope with the forces of disorder. I regard the m'ogr a sg of tr-j "o enoeayors -as or hig-rc-s-.- importance, not only for the safety and prosperity of, my subjects resident in China, but for the peace of the world.” NEED FOR ECONOMY. “Estimates for the services in the coming year are being prepared with strict attention to continuing the need- for economy in' public expenditure. In anticipation of a general scheme for relieving agriculture and productive industry from the burden of rates, you will be asked to make provision enabling railway companies to lower their charges on important, traffic, concerning agriculture, iron, coal, and steel industries. • “The.situation in the mining areas continues to engage the earnest attention of my Ministers, who are taking energetic steps to promote the success of the scheme ot indus-

trial. transference and migration. “ The abnormal expenditure from the unemployment fund entailed by the > * displacement of labor from the mines will necessitate an increase of the borrowing powers, and a Bill dealing with the question will be submitted in tho House of Commons. Measures will also be presented in the House of Commons to carry out the .scheme on a more equitable basis, for the reorganisation of local government, and for the readjustment of the financial relations _ between the State and the local authorities.” His Majesty trusts that the relief from the burden, of rates under the scheme may benefit agriculture and lead to greater employriient in industry generally, and particularly in the basic trades whose condition still causes concern. He emphasises the importance of the proposed changes in local government and the relations between the Exchequer and local authorities, which his Ministers anticipate will promote efficiency and economy in local government, and' 'will enable better provision to he made for the health of the people, and will direct assistance particulraly to those areas whose needs are • most pressing. Tho , Speech foreshadows Bills extending the export credits guarantee, scheme for a further period, authorising the appointment of two additional members of the Judicial Cominittee of the Privy Council, and one additional Lord of Appeal in ordinary, and assiting agriculturists of Scotland to obtain credits.

:LABOR OPEN'S ADDRESS-IN-REPLY "A QUEER KING’S SPEECH BRITAIN BLAMED FOR NAVAL AGREEMENT CONTROVERSY „ KJulted Preaa Assn, by El. Tel GonvrieiM Australian Preaa Abfin.-—United' ServJoe LONDON, 'Nov. 6. Speaking on the Address-in-Reply debate, Mr Ramsay MacDonald began: "This is a queer King’s speech.” The Ministry, he said, while, aligning the Paris pact, had been doing' its best to crib Cabinet and confine activities to the developments of the League of Nations. Furthermore, the Anglo-French naval agreement was not an agreement to limit armaments. Britain, was solely responsible for the suspicion created, upsetting the confidence of all nations of, Europe. Did we undertake to waive objections to F'rance’s trained reserves? If'no notice was to be taken of conseript civilians, mili-tary-trained, any disarmament was not worth the paper, on which it Was written. Had it been dropped? Had we abandoned the round-table idea? Had we replied to America’s ‘Note? • . Mr MacDonald invited Mr Baldwin- to -answer the questions.-and .feqncluded that .the curtain had been raised on the last act of the' Government’, s. four .years’.. sorry, drain a. Tho gallery was getting restive, and wanted tho actors to have a rest. Labor/, was anxious for Mr Baldwin to- hurry the time'when the electorate- its' verdict! ' PREMIER IN HUMOROUS -- ■ MOOD- ■ Mr ’- Baldwin, replying, - said y Mr MacDonald' had- hot\ enjoyed • • the dram&! : ,r VYhen we meet: again, there will be* many changes/, I'V hope that they • will-* meet with;,the r'kaitisfsption of-a' majority' of memberhe added* aihid laughter :,end ; cheers; Alluding to Mr - MacDonald’s* disapproval* of 'the delay of- the- Factories Act and - unemployment - measure, Mr Baldwin*'said -that • except for legislation? for- the-relief of indastrv and measures • mentioned ’ in -the ; Kma s there .was.-no: 'time -: for /other important :.v -Tjdr Philip Siiowden. Lahor. supported -the -demand" of ' Mr 'RlacDon‘'for; a statement by .the Governmejiit ? 9a • Soroijp. '•■ aftfir's. In tbe..-.a.|> . . - •• .. ; ‘ -• • ' ! - - ,-V~ V/W W ■ CVTiw-- /Ww/W

sence of such a statement he declared that it was no use to proceed with the debate, and ho therefore moved -.the adjournment of the House. ..-. Mr Baldwin defended the absence of~a statement by pointing out that for 'many years the debate on. the Addrss-in-lieply to the King’s Speech had nearly always been of a general character. He understood that amendments relating to matters in dispute, including one by the Liberals, were to be moved. The Government- knew of the things that Imd been.-said, of -it. in. the country and the Government desired to see what was equivalent to' a vote ,of censure moved upon" it to observe whether the same things would be said in the House as were said in the country. The Government had a perfect right to reserve its reply for that occasion. In these circumstances ho could only congratulate Mr Snowden on going back to the old constitutional practice or moving the adjournment of the debate at an early hour, and he had pleasure in accepting it. Tho motion, for an adjournment was agreed to without division, and the House rose.