BRITAIN’S PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1917, Page 1

BRITAIN’S PARLIAMENT

An Historic Gper.ing

(Australian & N.Z. Cable at on)

LONDON, Eeb. 7,

At the opening of Parliament instead of there being the historic Royal Gift Carriage their Majesties rotle in a landau drawn hv six bays.

There were only four carriages .in the procession. For the first time in history our Empire found a place of honour in this, the Crown’s highest constitutional act, towards the representatives * rallied round the sovereign.

The mounted Imperial escort, which immediately followed his Majesty’s personal guard, consisted of four British officers of the Indian Army j sixteen each of Canadians, Australians, Now Zealanders and South Africans; four each from Newfoundland and British West Indies.

The crowd recognised and cheered with enthusiasm the various uniforms. Major T. Dawson commanded the New Zealanders.

This Imperial Guard were perfect horsemen, big muscular sunburnt soldiers who made a line show, and were a most promnient feature of the procession.

Another Empire note was struck? within Westminister Palace. As the Royal procession swept from the Roding Room to the House of Lords tney passed the Eiya.l Gallery, where four hundred Overseas wounded were ; by the King’s special direction, permitted with their nurses and attendants to occupy seats.

Before the arrival of the Royal cortege the Lord Chamberlain conveyed the King’s appreciation of the gallant services of the wounded themselves and their comrades and biped for their speedy recovery and safe return to their glorious great countries. When the procession passed the King warmly returned the men’s salute. The* Chamber was densely crowded, but never looked so dull with khaki aau black predominating. The diplomats wore morning dress, and no uniforms, this being a departure from the precedent.

Miss Mackenzie had a place in the Peeresses gallery along with Mrs ana Miss Massey and Lady Ward.

Othca - commissioners were in the diplomats’ gallery. A. new and welcome feature was the admission of one newspaper representative from each Dominion and all neutral countries to the pr.ess gallery.

The Address-in Reply.

Speeches by Members

LONDON, Feb. 8,

In the House of Commons Mr Barnes asked power to introduce a Bill dealing with war pensions, and the Hon. A. Henderson a Bill for National Service. Mr McCurdy, in moving the Ad-dress-in-Reply, said we all desired peace hut were nofc in a hurry.

There are some things we wanted to do first, and our instincts revolted at the thought of negotiations with the authors of the atrocities in Belgium and the authors and abettors of the massacres in Armenia until they wore soundly and decisively defeated.

Until they were soundly and decisively defeated. Admiral Meux, in seconding, safd that just as a Zeppelin menace had been ended it was not too much 110 hope that the Navy would successfully account for the German submarines, ana of this our Navy was completely confident.

Mr Asquith said the nations only duty was to shew a united determination to prosecute the war. He.paid a tribute to the King’s continuous self-effacement and devotion.

The King and Queen sefc an example to their subjects. In a large measuro the efficiency of the blockade was due to the self sacrifice and gallantry of our mercantile marine.

Great Speech by Asquith. Feb. 7. Mr Asquith inquired into the scope of the Imperial Conference, whether it; was wholly upon the Empire’s efforts in the war, or would it consider Imperial economic reconstruction after the war. lie sought information upon the Government’s labour, food, and shipbuilding schemes. Germany’s latest threat was substantially a declaration of war against the neutral world. Germany expected asquesc'ence or merely a verbal protest. It was a gratifying notion to know the stern resolute determination of our other great English speaking community to frustrate the great enormity proposed by the enemies of the human race. Wo must secure a victory which would pave the way for an abiding peace and safeguard humanity’s future. For this there were two essentials: (1) the closest co-ordination of the plans and operations of the Allies, and (2) the complete concentration of our home resources. Mr Asquith appealed to everyone vo discharge that duty, remembering that we are trustees in the grandest cause in existence. Hon Bonar Law. Best Possible Testimony. lion. Bonar Law said, Mr Asquih’s .speech was the best ’testimony to the country’s unity. Answering Mr Asquith, he said that of sixty thousand unexempteds engaged in agriculture it was decided that twenty thousand must enlist, provided substitutes could be found from the Anny. . :. a ,„l|

Ho urged that there should ho k.u criticism until this was developed.

The Government was requisitioning, more nml more merchantmen, and then* would be some arrangement for tmr« nationalisation, and the same would apply to railways, and details would shortly be announced. As to shipping, the Controller liau already done valuable work in providing new ships, and whatever were the submarine ravages, we are doing some, thing to replace them by many ships which arc being constructed with the utmost rapidity. An Imperial Conference had been arranged because the usual colonial conference could not be held. He considcrd that the question of common interest regarding the war covered a wide ground. It was impossible to lay down hard and fast limitations upon the matters which tho- visiting. Prime Ministers would be permitted to discuss. It was arranged that tile, Prime Ministers sit as members when the Cabinet was discussing questions specially concerning them. The submarine was one of the greatest dangers we were fighting. ) Although he was only' speculating, lie could not help feeling that Germany was already doing her maximum, and had absolutely no chance of starving Britain or defeating ns in that way. Our Navy’s best brains were concentrated in Germany’s submarines,

and everything possible was being clone, and the noted absence of disasters shewed the favourable trend of the war in various theatres.

Germany’s aims in Roumania were defeated, and she was disappointed regarding corn and oil. .He referred with satisfaction to our accomplishments in Egypt, and the position in Mesopotamia was evidently satisfactory.