BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 7

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

THE KING’S SPEECH. UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND.

Br Telegraph—Pres* Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February IG. 9.20 a-m.) LONDON. February 15. j The King, m his speech at the opening of Parliament-, earnestly hoped that, the Allies’ Conference in London would 1 result in further progress, giving effect to the treaties of peace. re-establishing 1 concord in Europe, and restoring tranI quillity :iu the Near Last. His Majesty also hoped that the negotiations for :• trade agreement with Russia would bo I successful. He was glad arrangements I had been made to lenew personal conI sulfation with Ministers overseas am 1 I their colleagues, which had produced ; such gotjd results during the last two l jeavs of the *var. and during the peace settlement. He was confident that the discussions would no of the utmost 1 value in bringing about the co-ordina-tion of both the external and the internal policy of the Empire. The Esti--1 mates would reflect the (lovcrnraent’s determination to reduce expenditure to I the lowest level, consistent with the Empire’s well-being. L was inrnerative that the nation’s burden should be re- | djuced to the utmost extent in the i interests of an early revival of trade j and industry. The King added: Arrangements for bringing into force a Government, of i Ireland Act is now well advanced. I i earnestly tru?> the majors’ v of the j people w ill show a determination to ! repudiate violence, and work under the 1 Act.’* The. most pre'-sing problem confronting Parliament was unemployment, conj sequent ' ’l a world-wide restriction of trade. This might bo alleviated, but could not be cured by legislation. A • Bill would be introduced extending the | tvrovision for the uneniploved under the Employment Tii«nirnr»--e Act. and another would deal with safeguarding essential key industries against certain nsneets of unfair and abnormal ln«Tu««tr ; al competition. T* was proposed lo follow the removal ol the control of tb • Itorco prices of coal by the complete restoration of the r-oni industry to the normal condition of freedom of trade.

PRE-WAR CEREMONIAL. By Telegraph—Frea* A**-o;*tion—Copyright Australian and N Z. Cable Association. (Received Feb run rv 16. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON. February 15. The King’s speech foreshadowed a Bill to deal with the liquor traffic, in the light of experience gained during the war. It wos hoped this session to ■ submit proposals for the reform of the House of Lords and the reorganisation i of the railways. . Dense crowds lined the royal route to Parliament. They showed that they still loved the picturesque pre-war ceremonial. which was revived entirely, except that bays were substituted for the cream Hanoverian ponies in the King’s • State, ('oacli. The Lifeguards and other i bands wore elaborate pre-war uniforms, : while the Guards, m scarlet and bearj skins, lined Ihe route. The Spanish, French. Japanese and Italian Ambassadors .■journeyed in state coaches. The King, the Prince of Wales and the j Duke of York everywhere were heartily acclaimed. 11l- Majesty was attired in | a Field-MarsliaVs uniform. The Prince of Wales, for the first time in public, wore the Welsh Guards full dress, with j bearskin. 'Mirough the King’s fore- ! thought crippled soldiers and orphans 1 occupied a reserve outside Buckingham | Palace, and invalided troops were similarly accommodated at other points.