YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 30 November 1944, Page 5

YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

KING REVIEWS GREAT VICTORIES CONFIDENCE IN FINAL SUCCESS (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright). (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) . LONDON, Nov. 29. '

"The .United Natrons look back on a year of resounding achievement. They now look forward with greater confidence than ever before to those final victories which will give to the peoples of the world a just peace whichis our chief desire," said the King when opening the new session of Parliament today.

The King, accompanied by the Queen, drove to the House of Lords in a closed car and a guard of honour, formed by Westminster Palace Home Guard, lined the Royal Gallery on the; way to the House of Lords Chambers. For the first time since the war the traditional ceremony of searching the vaults of the Palace of Westminster was carried out by Yeomen -of the Guard.

"In Western Europe my forces from tlic United Kingdom and Canada and their comrades from the United States, with valuable aid from the armed forces of my European allies and of the people who have risen to meet them, routed the enemy in t series of decisive battles and are pressing in on the border of his own country. "In Italy the forces of the United Nations have advanced to the northern plains and in Greece and Yugoslavia Germans are being driven from the countries they oppressed, for three bitter years. "In the East the massive achieve ments of my Russian ally have deprived the Germans of vast stretches of territory which they hoped would feed their army and provide an impassable barrier to prevent the soil of Germany from ° becoming a battleground. Both in the Ei'st and in the West Germany is becoming a battleground. Both in the East and in the West Germany is invaded. The plight in which her armies, now find themselves is the measure of success which, by God's grace, has crowned our arms.

AGAINST JAPAN. "In the war against Japan, the enemy has been thrown back from India and my American ally continues to reduce the shrinking 'area still under Japanese control in the Pacific. "We intend to reinforce as rapidly and as powerfully as possible the United Kingdom forces who are now sharing with their comrades from a]l parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire v and from the United States, China, Netherlands and France the burden of the struggle against Japan. "My navies everywhere have maintained their mastery over the enemy and achieved great success in which my- air forces have fully shared in driving his surface and submarine forces from the seas. My air forces,, in concert with the air forces of the United States, have delivered increasingly heavy blows against Germany and have maintained their support ot military and naval operations in all theatres.

"The successes of my armed forces would not have been achieved but for the devoted labours of those throughout the Commonwealth apd Empire who have striven ceaselessly to arm and equip them. "The United Nations await with sober confidence the unrolling of f'nture events. Joined in an unbreakable alliance and fortified by constant collaboration between the. Governments concerned and by frequent personal meetings between their leaders, they look forward to that day on which the aggressor is finally defeated and the world turns to the rebuilding of prosperity and H;he maintenance of an unassail-

able peace. "Once, however, the war in Europe is over the transition" from war to peace will begin, and my Ministers are actively preparing plans to ensure that, without in any way prejudicing the active -progress of the war against Japan, an increasing part of our resources is made available for civilian production. "They will try to create conditions favourable to. the expansion of our export trade and the re-equipment ol our industry and to maintain the higl level of food production at home. "They are considering methods by ■which a policy for the maintenance of a high level of employment can be implemented, especially with regard to the distribution of industry in the development of areas. "Progress will be made in fulfilling the urgent tasks of providing additional housing accommodation and increasing supplies of civilian goods. "My Ministers continue their policy of ensuring a fair distribution of the necessaries of life so long as there are any supplies." The speech then announced plans for a comprehensive health service, an enlarged and unified scheme of national insurance, a new scheme of industrial injury insurance and a system of family allowance. Bills for electoral reform and enlarged finance powers for local authorities were also foreshadowed. Legislation was promised for making further provision for assistance towards the development of. the colonial empire both by prolong-: ing the period covered b"y the Colonial Development, and Welfare Act, IJMI and by substantially increasing the, provision of funds authorised to be i made under that Act.