HOUSE OF COMMONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 9

HOUSE OF COMMONS

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THE KING’S SPEECH. HOME AND FOREIGN POLICY PREFERENCE TO DOMINIONS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, December 9. Tho King’s Speech states that tho Government proposes to proceed with the plans already made for enlarging the naval base at Singapore. His Majesty says he has no doubt that tho happy results of the Prince of Wales’s previous visits to the dominions will be repeated in South Africa during the spring of 1925. Tho Prince of Wales will visit Argentina in 1925 in response to an invitation from tho President and Government there.

The Imperial and dominion governments had begun to examine tho Disarmament Protocol.

Tho Government was unable, to recommend consideration of the recent AngloRussian treaties. Normal intercourse between the two countries would be possible by the strict fulfilment of tho conditions cf friendly international intercourse which had repeatedly been submitted to tho Soviet Government. Tho Government’s guiding principle would be the closest co-operation with the dominions’ and Indian governments. The Government would steadfastly adhere to the encouragement of Empire settlement, and mutual trade proposals would be submitted granting further preference to Empire imports. A Bill would be introduced safeguarding industries. Provision -would be made for tho alleviation of unemployment and relief of the housing shortage by the encouragement of new methods.

Ministers were inquiring into the possibility of improving the old age pensions and the pensioning of widowed mothers. Measures would be submitted for encouraging the sugar beet industry and for providing for the marking of imported foodstuffs, and for carrying out the recommendations of the committee on preservatives and colouring in food.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

EMPIRE CO-OPERATION.

KEYNOTE OF THE SPEECH.

GOVERNMENT’S FIRST CONCERN

LONDON, December 9. (Received Dec. 10, at 8.30 p.m.) The outstanding feature of the Speech, which was unusually long, was the frequency of its reference to dominion affairs, substantiating Mr Baldwin’s platform pledges to make Empire development a nrst-rank consideration.

The Speech declared: “It is the firm conviction of my Government that in the closest co-operation with the Governments of the dominions and India on all matters of mutual concern lie both industrial progress and the increasing of the unity arid strength of the Empire. This will be the guiding principle of its administration. A policy of encouraging Empire settlement and mutual trade within the Empire is one which my advisers deem of the greatest importance, and to which they will steadfastly adhere. Proposals based on the recommendation of the Economic Conference of last year will be submitted, granting further preferences on goods from tho Empire. “The Government proposes, in accordance with the resolution of the last Imperial Conference, to proceed with tho plans already made for enlarging the Singapore base.’’ —A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

BRILLIANT SCENE IN LORDS,

NO UNTOWARD INCIDENT.

LONDON, December 9. (Refeived Dec. 10, at 9.30 p.m.) Beyond the presence of a large force of police and more vigilant surveillance at the entrances to parliament, there was no untoward incident at the opening session. Scarcely a thought seemed to be given to the Egyptian plot. Whitehall and the other approaches to Westminster were densely thronged by enthusiastic spectators, who accorded an ovation to the Prince of Wales as ho passed a few minutes before the Royal procession, which made a most imposing array of magnificence. The Guards regiments h'ned the route and detachments of the Life Guards in their glittering uniforms were included in the procession. Their Majesties unceasingly acknowledged the crowd’s unbroken chorus of cheering, which culminated in a rousing welcome at the gates of the House. The scene in the House of Lords was a most brilliant spectacle of colour and jewels. Among the largo assemblage of the Diplomatic Corps were the representatives of- Russia and Egypt, the only countries to which the references in the Kinc’s Hneech were embarrassing. Both representatives, however, sat unmoved. The High Commissioners occupied seats in the Lord Great Chamberlain’s box. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

address-in-reply debate , THE PREFERENCE PROPOSALS. MR MACDONALD’S CRITICISM.„ LONDON, December 9. (Received Dec. 10, at 10.10 p.m.) I* the House of Commons the mover of the Address-in-Reply was Mr R. G. Ellis (Con.) and the seconder Lord Balniel. Both speakers emphasised the importance of improving inter-imperial trade. Mr Ramsay MacDonald said that the first product of the Government was a King’s Speech of extraordinary length and very 1 little substance. The Government had no policy in regard to food prices and agriculture. He asked how the Government was going to submit the case of the Geneva Protocol to the dominions. Was there going to be a special dominion conference, and if so would the international conference on armaments be postponed. Mr MacDonald urged that no time ought to be lost in coming to an agreement with Egypt in regard to future Angio-Egyptian relations. Any arrangement would have to be assented to by the Egyptian Parliament. He asked if Mr Baldwin was going to run Imperial Preference without a tax on food. “Were we going to have tinned salmon again. (Laughter.) . , . Mr Baldwin, replying to the criticisms of Mr MacDonald and Mr Lloyd George, said that the Government would have been foolish to rush the acceptance of the Geneva Protocol without the fullest investigation in conjunction with the dominions. After making reference to Singapore, he said that as regards Protection he adhered to his previous statement that while ho would employ tho Safeguarding of Industries Act to safeguard efficient industries in which a great amount of unemployment was due to unfair competition be would not introduce Protection during this Parliament nor use the Safeguarding of Industries Act as a means to introduce it. The debate, which proceeded along general lines, wag adjourned till tomorrow. The House of Lords agreed to tho Address-in-Reply.—Reuter.