BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1868, 12 March 1913, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

OPENING DEBATE. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. SUFFRAGETTES BUSY. REFERENCES TO NEW ZEALAND. Prees Asm —By Telegraph—Copyright London, March 10. The King opened Parliament in State. Rain fell during the day, but large crowds assembled in the streets. Five suffragettes were arrested in Whitehall for attempting to force a passage to present a peti ion to the King. The Beefeaters carefully searched the vaults under the Houses of Parliament, and extra precautions were taken with the tickets of admission.

The Royal gallery in the House of Lords presented a brilliant spectacle. The King's Speech expressed the hope that the recent exchange of views between the colonies and the Imperial Government on naval de fence would promote the Empire's solidarity and growth. The discussion in tne Canadian Parliament on the presentation of three battleships testified to the Empire's desire to maintain the common safety. The Speech refers to the visit to England of the Hon. James Allen, New Zealand Minister for Finance and Defence, and welcomes the Minister. The King alluded to New Zealand's ready consent to the retention of her battleship in the North Sea and the steady progress toward the establishment of an Australian navy. The Speech says the principal legislation to be submitted to Parliament is Home Rule and Disestablishment, and bills to secure compliance with the land purchase schemes in Ireland, to constitute a national system of education and to abolish plural voting. The King entered the House of Lords wearing his crown for the first time since his accession to the throne. The Queen wore a small diamond crown.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. FOREIGN RELATIONS GOOD. London, March 10. During the debate on the Address-in-Reply the Premier said he was hopeful of peace, and added that while the Powers' groups remained unimpaired, relations between the groups themselves were increasingly cordial. (Cheers).

REDMOND'S ORYPTIO WORDS REFORM OF THE LORDS ELECTION FORESHADOWED. London, March 10. Mr Redmond visited the House of Commons, and, in a long notice of amendment to the Address, said it would be improper to proceed with the Home Rule and Disestablishment Bills while the Lords remained unreformed without reference to the electors.