KING’S SPEECH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21190, 10 November 1938, Page 5

KING’S SPEECH

CEREMONIAL OPENING OF PARLIAMENT British Official Wireless (Received November 9. 6.30 pin.) RUGBY. November 8. With traditional ceremony, the King, accompanied by the Queen, drove in State to Westminster this morning to open the new session of Parliament. The route was crowded with eager, enthusiastic spectators. There were three mounted equerries in attendance and a Sovereign’s escort of Life Guards. Their Majesties rode in a State coach drawn by eight grey horses, and five semi-State carriages, each with four bay horses, accompanied it, carrying officers and ladies of the Household. Defence Measures Progressing Addressing the House of Commons, the King referred to the advance of £10,000,000 to be placed at the disposal of Czechoslovakia to meet urgent requirements, and said that legislation would be made dealing with financial assistance to that country. Further passages in the speech were: "Although the equipment and expansion of my defence forces is now making rapid progress, the emergency through which we have passed has shown that certain deficiencies in our military and civil defence preparations remain to be remedied. My Ministers have reviewed these matters in the light of the experience gained, and will in due course, take steps to accelerate and supplement the measures already in hand. The problems of civil defence including the effective utilisation of the resources of the nation for national voluntary service, will, in future, .receive the undivided attention of Sir John Anderson. “The active furtherance of peace in Europe, which is the constant aim of my Government, will, I trust, lead to a wider spirit of confidence and supply a fresh impulse for an expansion in trr de and employment. My Government will make persistent efforts to establish favourable conditions for the development of oversea markets.” Domestic matters dealt with to the speech indicated that the development of housing, educational and public health services will te p’essed forward as well as improved conditions to sp.cial areas, and the amendment of the penal law. NO MENTION IN KING’S SPEECH ANGLO-AMERICAN TRADE’ TALKS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 9. 6.30 pm.) WASHINGTON, November 9. Official circles are inclined to attach no particulai significance to the omission from the King’s address to Parliament, of any references to the reciprocal trade treaty. It is believed this merely means that the British Cabinet has not yet acted on the proposals contained in the Note the United States sent to London late last vek. When this is acted upon, it will be known more clearly wl.en the negotiations will be completed. The Secretary of State <Mr Cordell Hull) reiterated to a statement to the press that negotiations had not broken down and were in the last stage of completion, whatever the outcome may be. Other State Department officials repeated their confidence in the success of the eg relations, anti gave assurance that only a few remaining details were awaiting adjustment.