BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 17

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. i LONDON, February 15. j The King’s Speech at the opening of j Parliament expressed the earnest hope that the Allied Conference in London would result in further progress in giving effect to the treaties of peace, re-establish-ing concord in Europe, and restoring tranquillity in the Near East. His Majesty also hoped that the negotiations for a trade agreement with Russia would be successful. He was glad that arrangements had been made to renew personal consultation with Ministers overseas, as this had produced good results in the last two years of war and during the peace settlement. He was confident that the discussions would be of the utmost value in bringing about co-ordination in both the external and internal policy of the Empire. The Estimates, said his Majesty, would reflect the Government's determination to reduce the expenditure to the lowest level consistent with the Empire’s well-being. It was imperative that the nation’s burden should be reduced to the utmost extent, in the interests of an early revival of trade and industry. The King added: “Arrangements for j bringing into force the Government of 1 Ireland Act are now well advanced. I j earnestly trust that a majority of the ; people will show a determination to repudiate violence, and to work under the Act.” I The most pressing problem confronting Parliament, continued the King, was unemployment, consequent on the world wide restriction of trade. This might be alleviated, but could not be cured, by legislation. A Bill would be introduced extending the provisions for the unemployed under the Employment Insurance Act. Another measure would deal with the question of safeguarding the essential key industries against certain aspects of unfair abnormal industrial competition. It was proposed to follow the removal of the control of the Home prices of coal by complete restoration of the coal indus try to normal conditions of freedom. The Speech foreshadowed the introduction of a Bill to deal with the liquor traffic in the light of the experience gained during the war. The Speech stated that it was hoped to submit proposals for the reform of the House of Lords this session and for the reorganisation of the railways. Dense crowds lined the Royal route to the Houses of Parliament. They showed that they still loved the picturesque prewar ceremonial, which was revived entirely, except that hay ponies were substituted for cream Hanoverian ponies in the King’s state coach. The Life Guards’ and other bands wore their elaborate prewar uniforms, while the Guards in scarlet and bearskins lined the route. The Spanish, French. Japanese, and Italian Ambassadors journeyed in state coaches. The King, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of York were everywhere heartily acclaimed. His Majesty was attired in a field-marshal’s uniform. The Prince if Wales, for the first time in public, wo. o the Welsh Guards’ full dress, with hear skin. Through the King’s forethought crippled soldiers and orphans occupied a reserve outside Buckingham Palace, and invalid soldiers were similarly accommodated at other points. ADDRESS IN-REPLY. LONDON. February 15. In the House of Commons Mr J. R. Civiies, M.P. (Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party), on behalf of the Labour Party, lodged an amendment to the Address in Reply expressing regret that the King's Speech did not recognise the right of the genuine unemployed to work or to adequate maintenance. Following the mover and seconder of the Address, Mr Asquith expressed satisfaction that the legislation foreshadowed covered a comparatively small area compared with the Speeches m recent years. He welcomed the, meeting of the Allied

Premiers and the representatives ot Germany and Turkey in London. He desired to know the scope and purpose of the conference. GENERAL SMUTS’S TRIUMPH. LONDON, February 15. The House of Lords agreed to the Address-in-Reply. Lord Curzon, in replying to the debate, paid a tribute to General Smuts, who, he said, was a patriot and a statesman. His triumph was not only a victory for South Africa, bat for the Empire as a whole. The conditions in Europe were brighter and more full of hope than a year ago. NEED FOR CO-ORDINATION. LONDON, February 16. The Prime Minister, replying to an amendment urging co-ordination between the army, navy, and air force, admitted the necessity of co-ordination, but said that there should be co-ordination between the various parts of the Empire. The defence of the Empire should be an Imperial concern. It was too much to ask these small islands to undertake the defence of the gigantic Empire. The knowledge that the Empire stood together would be the best guarantee against the shedding of blood. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. LONDON, February 18. Sir Donald Maclean resumed the debate on unemployment. He said the unemployed must be maintained, but not merely maintained at the merest margin of existence. The Government’s increase of the unemployment benefit was not enough. The country could pay a bigger amount by reducing the expenditure in Mesopotamia, Persia, and elsewhere. He declared that the Government should deal with unemployment swiftly and from the same strong national standpoint that it dealt with questions of foreign policy. He charged the Government with reckless extravagance and maladministration, stating ! that the Government’s foreign policy was not so managed as to develop the peace of the world, and this resulted in unemployment. Labour speakers emphasised that the Labour Party was not prepared to accept 18s benefit payment, and demanded 40s weekly for out-of-work householders. ! Mr J. Sexton (Labour) admitted that- if there was any guarantee of a reduction m the cost of living the rate of wages would have to he reconsidered; but they could | never return to the old economic idea, UNEMPLOY ED INSUR ANC K. 1,0 NDO N, Febr u ary 18. I The Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party Executive passed a resolution affirmi inn- the Government’s policy of extending the unemployment insurance, but which is considered lamentably inadequate, and urged that comprehensive steps he taken to restore international trade and to ; organise national schemes for work, with adequate maintenance for those unable to obtain employment. A BYE-ELECTION. LONDON, February 19. ! The Cardigan election, caused by Mr Vaughan Davies being raised to the'peerage, resulted as follows:—Evans, Coalition Liberal (Mr Lloyd George’s private secretary), 14,111; Llewllyn Williams, Inj dependent, 10,521.