BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 31385, 14 February 1923, Page 6

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

OPENING CEREMONIES. THE KING’S SPEECH. Electric Teleg'-ipn- Press Association C’upy right. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association) (Received this day, at 11.40 a.m.) London, February 13. The King and Queen drove to Westminster to open Parliament under clouded skies. 'l'he route of t-lie Royal procession was thickly lined with spectators. The attendance of Peers and Peeresses was smaller than at the last opening. The Duke of York was seated at. the head of tbo Dukes’ bench. The Prince of Wales immediately preceded their Majesties to the chamber. Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James | Allen were seated next to the Am- | bassadors’ gallery. ! Commoners arrived as early as l I o’clock in order to reserve scats for i the session, 'though it did not open till 8 o’clock, when the Royal summons arrived. There was a large attendance ot Labourites, but Conservatives and Liberals were only moderately represented. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Asquith were notable absentees. The King’s speech greatly regretted the inability of the Allies to reach a general agreement at the i*eoent London and Paris conferences on Reparations, while the British Government wias unable either to concur or participate in the plan put into force by France and Belgium. 11 Wias acting so as not to add to the difficulties of the. Allies. His Majesty hoped that when the full repoij of the Lausanne Conference reached the Turkish Government, they might, still he disposed to accept the treaty and that the opportunity so earnest-lv and laboiiousIv prepared of rebuilding the peace of the east and the stability of the future Turkish State might not he sacrificed. Reductions in public expenditure remained essential to the wellbeing of the state. Serious unemployment caused His Majesty" the deepest concern and must continuously engage ministers attention. He earnestly trusted that the country might anticipate a continned improvement in both home and external tirade, and looked forward particularly to greater develo}>ment of intor-Tmpevinl tradci i*n cooperation with the various (.overnnients of the Empire.