HOME POLITICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 7

HOME POLITICS

CROWD CHEERS MR MACDONALD KING PROROGUES PARLIAMENT. EY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.' (Received Oct. 11, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 10. A large crowd assembled in Downing Street and cheered Air MacDonald as he departed to see the King. There were cries of: ‘‘Good for yon, sir. Let’s fight. Stick to it, Mac.” The interview with the King lasted an hour. Mr MacDonald on his return said: “I anr sorry that events have turned out- as they have, but everyone knows that the -situation has been forced upon us. I should have been glad if Labour had been allowed to carry out its policy, which I maintain has been honest politics, for the promotion of the common weal.” The King signed the prorogation proclamation at a Privy Council meeting in the afternoon.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

LONDON, Oct. 10. The King in his speech at the prorogation of Parliament said that he believed that the Dawes settlement will largely contribute to the restoration of international commerce. He hopes that the disarmament security protocol adopted by the assembly' of the League of Nations, which will be laid before Parliament at the earliest possible moment, will lead to the first practical measures of lightening the heavy. burdens on the nations. The speech refers to the Anglo-Russian treaty as a necessary element in the general pacification of the economic reconstruction of Europe, and regrets the failure of the informal discussions with the Prime Minister of Egyot. It says that steps will be taken in conjunction with the Governments of the Dominions for the more efficient marketing of food in this country. Though there were signs of a distinct improvement in industry ancl severe depression continues, Ministers have been actively engaged in the development of a constructive policy to stimulate industry and encourage trade as the only means of dealing fundamentaiiv with unemployment. Meanwhile the provision of an increased unemployment benefit has lightened the burdens on the ratepayers and alleviated the sufferings of innocent victims of industrial depression. The King hopes that the measures taken for a 15-years’ building programme will effectively remedy serious overcrowding. The Speech concludes by referring to the measures taken to assist agriculture, to regulate the wages of agricultural labourers, to take a new census production, and to free educational development from recent restrictions.— Reuter.