KING AND PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1935, Page 5

KING AND PARLIAMENT

ADDRESSES RECEIVED His Majesty’s Reply CEREMONY AT WESTMINSTER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 9. To-day’s cerein’ony at Westminster Hall, when ’he King and Queen drove there in an open carriage to receive tin* addresses of both Houses, was a memorable one. Their Majesties drove there without a. military escort, along a route lined not by troops, but by groat crowds of their cheering people, and marked by quite dignity and moving simplicity. The scene in the great Westminster Hall was unequalled in history. 464 peers ami 455 members of the Commons, assembled to hear the addresses of tin* Houses read by Lord Chancellor Sankey, on behalf of tin* Lords, and by tin* Speaker on behalf of the C'onim. ns, in the presence of representatives of the Dominions, former Cabinet Ministers and Judges. Their Majesties entered bv St. Stephen’s porch beneath a scarlet ami gold canopy, headed by a Sergeant-at-Aiiiir, and the Speaker in full uniform. Members of the Commons formed fours, the first of them being Mr MacDonald, Air Lansbury, Sir Herbert Samuel and Air Herbert, then came Mr Baldwin, Major Attlee, Mr Lloyd George as Father of the House and Sir Austen Chamberlain.

Their Majesties, seated on the rose and gold coloured thrones were Hanke'l by their four sons fronting the Parliamentarians-’- war memorial. The King’s sons sat on the traditional rod leather benches.

The occasion, was memorable for a remarkable speech by the King, one passage in which was an eloquent vindication of the British Empire as commonwealth of peace. “In -these days,” said the King, “when fear a'hd preparation for war are again astir in the world, let us be thankful that quiet government and peace prevail over so large a part of the earth’s surface, and that under our flag of freedom, so many millions eat their daily bread in far-distant lands and climates, with none to make them afraid.” The King’s voice, at one moment only, showed a tendency to falter. It was when, half-turning towards the Queen, who sat at his side, he said: “I have been blessed in all my work in 'having beside me my dear wife, of whom you have spoken so kindly.’’

The Lord Chancellor, offering the heartfelt congratulations, said: “Into 25 years has been crowded the fierce 'ordeal of the most desolating war in history, the toil of rebuilding which has shaken the structure of our common life, and the slow, arduous endeavour to regain prosperity and establish peace. Elsewhere thrones

and constitutions had failed to last out the strain, yet in this realm, the development of public rights and liberties has not been arrested, but made wider and surer. His Majesty rules over a nation of free citizens The Throne stands more firmly than ever before, as the centre of national life. His Majesty’s own personality has made the Throne not merely a

symbol, but a. loved and living reality, and Jias given a new meaning to the name of the King. Iler Majesty’s unfailing interest in the lives and homes of the people has won for her a place of her own in their affect Von. In your sons, always active in every part of the world in public service, we have sure confidence -that when this generation lias passed, anl this week’s bright pageantry ‘becomes a distant memory, the House of Windsor will

still reign over o loyal united people. From the depths of our hearts we pray that God will bless Your Majesty.”

The Speaker followed in similar strain and concludel with: “By the gracious aid of the Queen you have won by sympathy and kindliness, something warmer than allegiance, and more profound than loyalty. Today, you arc more than Sovereign. You are head of the family. We offer with •cep respect and affection, the homage of a free Parliament and pray that by the blessing -of Almighty God you may long continue as Sovereign of a proud and devoted people.’’

THE KING’S REPLY. The King replying to speeches said; “I thank you from my heart for the loyal tddress, flor the worls of devotion and affection for myself, the Queen and family. Your presence, accompanied by the Dominion Prime Ministers, gives rise to many memories and thoughts. The mother of parliaments, and her children have grown tie full estate, stand now on equal terms in common allegiance to the Crown. The unity of the British Empire is no longer expressed by the supremacy of the time-honoured Parliament of Westminster. The Crown is the historic symbol which unites the great family of nations and races scattered in every quarter of the earth. Never before in history have such wide varieties of speech and culture been brought into the Commonwealth of Peace. d especially welcome representatives friom my Indian Empire.

“This, my Palace of Westminster, is the very cradle of our envied Parliamentary institutions. Here is the anvil on which the common law was forged, to become the joint inheritance of the United States of America, and your own community of peoples. Beneath these rafters of mediaeval oak. witnesses of historic tragedies and pageants, we celebrate .the present under spell of the past. It is to me a source of pride and thankfulness that the perfect harmony of our parliamentary system with constitutional monarchy has survived the shocks that in recent years have destroyed other Empires and other liberties. Our ancient constitution is very adaptable to change, and has during my reign, faced and conquered perils of warfare, never conceived in earlier years, and met and satisfied new Democratic demands, both at home and overseas.’’ The King continued: —“The system bequested us by our ancestors, and, again modified for the needs of the new age, has been found once more, as of old. the best way 'to secure government by the people, freedom for Hie individual, ordered strength of the- State and rule *of law over governors and governed alike. Tai booking back over the twenty-five years of my reign, the thankfulness I feel to-day is chiefly for the escape from danger, greater than ever before which threatened our land. I can never forget how the peril fom without at once united all parties and classes, governments and races, in the Em- • pire. Let us not in this hour of

thanksgiving fail to remember those who gave their lives, or are now maimed or blinded, that we might continue the. aftermath of.war, in a world exhausted by the ordeals,- and impoverished by its destruction, we set our selves to resume normal ways, recreate .the structure of ipur industry

and- commerce, and respond to the urgent desire to improve the conditions of life. We were treading unfamiliar broken ground, fur there had been farreaching changes, especially in economic conditions. Everywhere, a feeling of uncertainty and lack of confidence hung like a shadow over human endeavour, but we made headway by earnest good will,, prudence and stability uf my people. To-day, the country has attained io a measure, industrial success, which gives it confidence- in the future. I am very conscious that these years brought hardship and of-i ten disappointment, and 1 have been 1 moved to profound admiration for the great heartedness of my people, and the steadfast fortitude and unbending will to overcame it, which they have ever shown in anxieties. I sympathise deeply with those who have endured sadness and the burden of unemployment. It is a source of comfort to me to feel that from these times of trial, there has grown up throughout our community, a stronger feeling of fellowship one for another. . I give

thanks to Almighty God Who has so far sustained me and my people, and pray we may continue to pursue the cause of freediom and progress, in a spirit of peace, tolerance and understanding. ’ ’ As the King muled his speech, the Lord Chancellor called for three iheers, first for the King, and then for the- Queen. Afterwards. Their Majesties drove back to tin* Palace, through a crowded and cheering throng.

Mr Forbes and other Dominion Ministers amd their wives attended tonight’s State dinner at Buckingham Palace, which was a bril’.iant spectacle, in the State dining room on the first floor. The guests were seated at the great horseshoe table. Their Majesties at the top, and members of the Royal Familv nearby.

After dinner, Their Majesties mingled with their guests. As it is estimated that 53.000 Australians and New Zealanders are now in London participating in the Jubilee. Commons to consider organising an official welcome at the Albert Hall to demonstrate that the visit is appreciated. Hardily, at any time of the day or night, has. Buckingham Palace been without its crowd, and this afternoon, when the Queen drove out on a private shopping expedition, she received a remarkable ovation. The Lhndon crowds have been getting steadily bigger in the parks an! streets, owing in part to the enormous influx of visitors. The authorities expect that on Saturday night, the- crowds will exceed all others. There has boon no departure from good temper and orderliness. The Police Courts have had less cases to deal with than in a normal week, and it was mentioned in the Commons, to-

day, that despite the vast numbers of people who made use of the parks, no appreciable damage has been done, and notably t'here has been no damage to plants or flowers.

A HEN’S TRIBUTE.

LONDON. May 9

A Chatham, inn-keeper’s hen caught the Jubilee spirit, and laid an egg on May 6th, bearing a perfect J, threequarters uf an inch long, embossed. on the narrow end.

A sceptical Mayor examined it and promptly offered but the innkeeper refused, as he intends sending it to the King.