BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22713, 28 October 1935, Page 10

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

PROROGATION AT WESTMINSTER HALF-EMPTY BENCHES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, October 25. The benches were very thinly occupied when Parliament was prorogued. Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Sir Philip Cun-liffe-Lister were the only Ministers present. Less than 20 people watched the ceremony from the galleries. ■ The King’s Speech for prorogation of Parliament says: “To the Queen and myself this, my silver jubilee year, will ever remain one of our happiest memories. The wonderful tributes of affection we received from every part of the Empire will be treasured in our hearts as , long as we live. I was happy to welcome to London the Prime Ministers from the dominions overseas and the representatives cf India who came to take part in the celebrations of the silver jubilee. The critical situation which has unhappily arisen between Italy and Abyssinia has aroused the gravest concern. From the moment that dispute occurred the Government exerted itself to the utmost to promote a peaceful settlement. It is to be regretted that these persistent endeavours did not avail to prevent reson to force, Government loyally supported the efforts of the League with a view to restoration of peace and the achievement of an equitable settlement in the spirit of the Covenant.” After recalling the further considerable advance towards prosperity and the improvement in employment, the Speech refers to the measures for dealing with the distressed areas, and adds; “ While the Government has not ceased its efforts to promote limitation and reduction in armaments by international agreement, it has been found impossible to postpone further expansion of the Air Force. Plans for further development of Imperial air communications are under active consideration.”

THE KING’S SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SESSION THE CONCLUDING DEBATE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 25. (Received Oct. 27, at 5.5 p.m.) After brief sittings this morning Parliament was prorogued with timehonoured ceremonial by Royal Comrr asion to enable the dissolution proclamation to be issued’ this evening. The Commons were summoned to the House of Peers to hear the King’s Speech, which was read by the Lord Chancellor. In the course of his speech the King said; “ I have given my assent to a Bill to make provision for the future government of India and Burma, which must stand in the records of both your Houses as one of the weightiest and most complex measures with which Parliament ever dealt. I hope when the further steps required to bring the Act Into operation have been taken its provisions will not only bring contentment and wellbeing to the people of India and Burma but will draw closer the bonds of amity between them and the rest of my Empire.” Dealing with domestic matters the Speech proceeded: “ The more confident s; irit of industry and the continued growth in the national revenue and the prudent and successful management of our financial affairs have permitted a further considerable advance towards prosperity. I rejoice that it has been possible for my Government, notwithstanding the new pressing claims rom many directions, to remove a greater part of the extra burdens imposed four ye ago and in particular to grant substantial relief to the small taxpayer. 1 am gratified to observe a further steady increase in employment among my people during the past year. Despite many adverse conditions in international trade and the position overseas, the trade of this country continues to expand, especially with other parts of the Empire and with foreign countries with which trade agreements have been concluded.” Dealing with air rearmament, the Speech added: “ While my Government has not ceased, and will not cease, its continuing efforts to promote the limitation and reduction by agreement of all forms of armament it has been found impossible to postpone further expansion of the Royal Ait Force to a strength which will enable it to fulfil its vital duties in national and Imperial defence, and the programme necessary to give effect to this has now been undertaken.” The three-day debate on the international situation in both Houses which ended last night was the concluding business of the eighth Parliament of the present reign. The debate is widely held to have fulfilled a valuable purpose in demonstrating the unmistakable i.nd essential unity of all parties in support of the Government’s policy in the present crisis with its twofold aim of upholding the League Covenant and storing peace by agreed settlement.