SESSION OPENS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1696, 12 March 1913, Page 7

SESSION OPENS.

THE KING'S SPEECH. SUFFRAGETTE R|UD ON ROYAL COACH. IMPERIAL DEFENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association- -Copyright London, March 10. His Majesty 'the King to-day opened Parliament in state. Tho weather was rainy, but tho procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster waa witnessed by a largo crowd. was a brilliant spectacle in the House of Lords. The King entered the House wearing his crown for tho first time since his accession. The Queen wore a small diamond crown. The King's Speech alluded to tho recent exchange of viows between tho colonial and Imperial Governments on naval defence, which would promote tho Empire's solidarity. Tho gift of battleships and tW discussions in the Canadian Parlia-. ment testified to the Empire's, desire to maintain the common safety. Tho Speech also welcomed the visit of the Hon. James Allen, New Zealand's Minister for Defence, and alluded to New Zealand's ready consent to the retention of the New Zealand battleship in the North Sei. Mention was, .made of tho steady progress of the establishment of the Australian Navy. The principal legislation to bo considered during the session will be • the Home Rule Bill and tho Welsh Church Disestablishment 'Bill, and Bills to secure the completion of 'land purchase in Ireland, the national system of education, and the abolition of plural voting. SUFFRAGETTE DEMONSTRATION. ; I —— PETITION THOWN AT KING. London, March 10. ; Five Suffragettes were arrested during the Royal progress through' Whitehall. They attempted to forco a passage, and present.a petition to the King. - [ The Beef-eaters, carefully searched the vaults and the House of Parliament, and' extra precautions were taken over the iteue of tickets for the Royal Gallery. The five-Suffragettes have been charged with ' obstruction. They darted through the cordon of police and Guardsmen in the Mall, 'opposite SI;. James's Palace. '.

Hearing tho crowd's shouts of indignation, the King lpokod 'Out of the window and flushed deeply at the insult. He turned quickly to speak to the Queen. Meanwhile five were within a few yards of the, carriage, and threw papers into the Royal coach. Tho, Beef-eaters, with their halberds, threatened two/' who, undaunted, revolleyed the manifestoes. The'polico twice protected the Suffragettes from the fury of the mob, who shouted: "Duck them ;in the latis." A man was arrested in the Mall for obstruction by endeavouring to present a petition relating to the unemployed and destitute.'. ."V.''"- ' > ,The horses attached to the German Ambassador's (Prince Lichnowsky) carriage became restivo in the Mall, and the pole of the-carriage snapped.'' Policemen pulled the c.arring|:to the' House of lords entrance, •'tywity, W? V- vv: MRS. PANKHURST DEFIANT. ' • THE GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED'. (Rcc, March 11, 0.50 a.m,) ! ; London, March 11.' The women's petition to tho King explained that militancy had endangered public and private prpperty, and brought (the administration of the liw into contempt. The petitioners would wait | and see whether the Speech would contain a promise of legislation, as thoy had heard it 'was possible that .the Government would submit a.Coercion Bill. ,The granting of the vote was the only, euro for, militancy. ~ • • '

. Pankhurst, fhe leader of tho militants, in speaking at the Pavilion Music Hall, said-that never until 1913 had an-, attempt to present a petition been described as an insult to the King.. "Women's actions, even when historically correct, were characterised nowadays as extraordinary. The petition was correctly and respectfully worded. She defied the Government to pass repressive legisl» tion, which she declared would'be followed; by failure.^ ADDRESS-IN-REPLy DEBATE'. MR. ASQUITH ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. .(Rec. March 11, 10.10 p.m.) , ■ . - / London, , March 11. ; Tho Speech' from .the Throne announced that the, Exchequer was guaranteeing a loan to develop cotton-growing in the Sudan. The debate on the Address-in-Reply has Idgim. • I Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposition, challenged the statements as to the prosperity of Britain. Ho; admitted that trade had increased in 1912, but the trade of Germany and;' America had increased in a greater proportion. While there was practically no emigration from Germany, that from Britain was heavy, and unemployment was in a higher ratio here than in. Germany. The world's increase in armaments had had one advantage in welding tho Empire togethor, but he hoped closer union would be carried still further. He emphasised the point that nobody was satisfied- with the British land forces. ' .Mr. Asquith claimed |hat the delibera' tions of the Ambassadors had resulted in agreement'with regard to the Balkans, and had Secured marked concord among the Powers. Griat Britain had worked with /A single-minded desire to work with Germany, and that co-operation had not only made the path of diplomacy pleasantor, hut he trusted and believed that it had inspired a mutual, sense of confidence, which would continue between the two great nations.

He paid a tribute to Sir. Edward Grey's patience, resolution, and sagacity in dealing with foreign affairs. Mr. Asquith said ho concurred with Mr. Bonar Law as to tho jjlfect of the . increase of other countries' armaments on Imperial solidarity: this had consolidated the feeling in all parts.of the Empire that wo must act to- . gether as a united body • to preserve mutual interests. The Motherland and the outlying parts of tho Empire fully rccogntised tho urgency and importance of the reform of the House of Lords. The Sudan loan would be issued in instalments asireqnircd, and ho did not believe .it would involvo any liability to tho British taxpayer. Mr. Asquith said lie was hopeful for peace, and added: "Wlv.lo the Powers' groups remained unimpaired, the relations between , the groups themselves were increasingly cordial.'' (Cheers.) < V-A SHEAF OF AMENDMENTS. LABOUR DISSATISFACTION,. (Rec. March 12, 0.50 a.m.) London, March 11. The Labour party has given notice of an amendment to the Address-ln-Reply regretting the omission of legislation to sccure a minimum living wage, and the

nationalisation of lands, railways, and mines antl other monopolies.

Mi'. Hewins, Unionist member for Hereford, litis moved an amendment regretling that measures have not been taken to give effect to the principle of Imperial co-operation, as expressed at tho successive Imperial Conferences, especially by the granting of trade preference. Mr. W. H. Long, Unionist member for the Strand, lias given notice of an'amendment to tlio Address-in-Ueply that it is not proper to proceed with the Home Rule and Disestablishment Bills while tho House of Lords is unreformed, without special reference to the electors. ' ' ' THE EDUCATION BILL. (Rec. March 12, 0.50 a.m.) London, March 11. In the House of Loi'ds the Marquis of Crewe, Secretary of .Slate for India, said the Government did not intend to force through a vast education measure this session, but would placo the country in possession of its intentions. MRS. PANKHURST'S PLANS.

■ SUFFRAGETTE TACTICS. A statement of tho policy to be pursued by the militant Suffragettes was made by' Mrs. Pankhurst at a meeting of ( the Women's Social and Political Unioh ] in London at the end of January. Mrs. , Pankhurst declared that she knew'that she was in a position of grave responsibility to 'the suffrage movement, and she meant to take her part, as an individual, 1 in the front rank" o£ _ movement. (Cheers.) People who criticised them | spoke of underground and secret methods, , and had gone so far , as 'to suggest lack of courage on the part of the women who were conducting this campaign. In a civil war liko 'theirs there was no other way.' They had to face an enemy with all the resources of Government and civilisation at its disposal. They had no army and navy, and no police force. They were in the position of all those'people in history who had found themselves opposed to Hie Government, and who were practically unarmed and unorganised. (A voice: "Rebellion.") Yes; they accepted rebellion; but she was (talking of tactics and methods of| warfare.-. Invariably all the pre.it battles of this kind had been waged by guerilla warfare. Let them think c- the ClsribaUlian movement, of the Duko'c? Brunswick, and the Black Branswickers, of Mexico, . and of 'the- fight against the great, power .of Austria—it was guerilla warfare, the only form of warfaro possible. , ■ Theirs was guerilla warfare—(cheers)—and slio said that in the course of fjiat warfaro the women leaders had shown as much heroism, ""'resource,' and ingenuity as any of llie grea't men who were, concerned in those struggles. They would fight this, fight as Garibaldi fought in the Italian fight for freedom. They had to replace force with woman's wit; they bad to take the enemy unawares. (Cheers.) They had to produce the maximum of effect with the minimum of effort. In all the struggle that lay before them, in which they had to place honesty and feminine ingenuity against craft anil force of every possible kind, one thing they would regard as sacred. Human life was beyond everything else, so that regard for human life would alwavs be nearest to their hearts. Short of that . they were warranted in using all the methods that were resorted to in time of war. If they talked to 'them about the destruction of property.well, whatVould men do in time of war? What did they do in the South African War? What did they do in a war of aggression against poor helpless savages in order to rob from them the land on which they were born? They burned tho roof over itho houses of innocent women and children; they turned them out into the streets; they even killed apd maimed, and gave no quarter to those human beings. They were not going to lin'jure human beings, but if it was to win the vote t'hev were going to do as much .damage.-to tlieiiv .nropertynasr they:, possibly could. People might. Wy to ithem : "Why do you touch the propertypeople not.responsible?" They were all rrsponsiblo*uiikss they put a stop to the way, in which women were being treated. And what 1 was going 'to be the result? As soon as t.hev had had enough of it they would tell the Government that they must end it. ' Tho people would say to* the Government: "Pr something." Punishment would not end it. They would realise that the only way .to get security was by giving the women the vote. •>