SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 23 November 1932, Page 9

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

King Opens Parliament Government Hopes Outlined STEPS TO AID INDUSTRY Feeling Of Greater Confidence UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF IDEAS (British Official Wireless.) Received 12.50 p.m to-day. RUGBY, Nov. 22. The King and Queen drove in state from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords where His Majesty to-day opened the new session of Parliament. The pageant was witnessed by a large crowd. Before the procession arrived the Prince of Wales in a state landau drove to the House of Lords and was accorded a popular reception. The speech read by the King from the throne included the following passages: “It is my earnest hope that the Lausanne conference will lie able, to reach au agreement on measures required to deal with the causes which j brought about the present economic! and financial difficulties of the world. The conference for the' reduction and limitation of armaments now sitting at Geneva embodies the hopes and efforts of mankind to induce the greatest measures of general disarmament than can be attained. My Government will continue m full co-operation with all other members of the conference 1° work for an international convention which will be the foundation for a lasting! peace. “My ministers and other members of both Houses are meeting in conference with representatives of Indian States and British India. They hope thereafter to place before you proposals for the further constitutional development of India and tile decisions to be taken will he of great moment to the whole of my Empire and J. shall watch your deliberatijons with deep inteaest.

“Although the various conversion schemes which have been successfully carried through offer prospects of large reductions in the national debt it is .still necessary to exercise careful supervision over public expenditure, both national and local.

“Measures already taken to assist British industry in ‘the Homo market and to improve markets overseas have created a feeling of greater confidence. My Government will continue to do everything an its power to stimulate the recovery of trade. _ Agriculture has long been depressed by the general fall in th© wholesale prices of its products and my Ministers recognise that though the measures recently taken in regard to meat and other products have been of real assistance to producers further plans are necessary to enable agriculture as a whole to take its proper place in the economy of the natron. “My Government intends bringing forward ideas for dealing comprehensively with unemployment insurance and the treatment of those unable to obtain work.”

The restoration of prosperity in agriculture could not be expected until wholesale prices had risen to a more normal level. Long reference was made by the King to unemployment and particular disrtsse was expressed over the fact that many young men and women never in their lives had had the opportunity of regular emlloyment. The forthcoming measures would deal with unemployment insurance and other unemployed problems and rent restrictions

Address=ln=Reply Debate HELP GIVEN TO WORKLESS REPLY TO LABOUR, CRITIC. Received 12.40 p.m. to-day. RUGBY, Nov. 22. There was a. large attendance in the House cf Commons -when the debate oegan on the Addiess-in-Reply. Members of all parties cheered when Mr. Winston Churchill made his first appearance since his recent illness . The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, dealt with criticism levelled at the Government’is policy bv Mr George Lansbnr-r- regarding unemployment. He said the Labour Party tried to deal with ,the problem by the provision of relief work, hut when the expenditure reached it.s highest point the unemployed figures were* going rapidly up. The conditions and state of unemployment two years ago wore much worse than at present. Ihe Government faced up to the fact that when trade recovered to a, degree which anyone could reasonably expect there would still be a large residium of unemployment. It was therefore not a question of temporary relief. A revival of agriculture,.was essential to the plans. Regarding- the foreign tne Prime Minister said the World Economic Conference was finding the Same obstacles in the way. . The British Government would continue to press for the earliest possible meeting.

Sympathy With Ireland OBJECTION TO OMISSION

TARIFF POLICY ASSAILED

Received 2.40 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Nov. 22. In the House of Commons Mr G. Lansburv, Jjabour [Leador, said the King's .speech was unworthy of being put .into His Majesty’® hands. It promised mo action concerning the greatest problem of the day—not a word of sympathy with the Irish people who were suffering from the economic, war and condemned. l>v lack of action to deal quickly with the* matter, to suffering and distress due to unemployment. If the Government cared decent maintenance could be provided for everyone. Sir Herbert Samuel said the people were already sceptical of the tariffs arising from the Ottawa agreements. The world had 30.000,000 unemployed and the cure must be international. Rntain might begin by following the examples of Holland and Belgium and form the* largest possible group* ot low tariff countries, members of which von Id umk-take to reduce tariffs amoinr themselves. Secondly Britain should check heir own tariff mcrea.ses in,' recognise that merely local national attempts to raise price levels wore both futile and dangerous. He recognised that no statement was at m-esont advisable on the American lebt. Tt was not a question of "he -her Kurono could afford to pa.v. but .vhetlier the United Staten could a.ord to receive as the consequent ex Insion of goods would injure America m,l every other country. The House adjourned.