BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1929, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

LORDS TO OPEN IT,

(United Press Association—By Kleetri< Telegraph—Copvngnt). LONDON, June 23. Parliament meets on June 25th The remainder of the week will b< occupied with the swearing-in o members. Commissioners consisting of riv« Lords will open Parliament on July 2nd, following the precedent of iIKK when Queen Victoria did not attend Lord Justice Sankey will read the King’s Speech. OPENING OF SESSION. ELECTION OF SPEAKER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received this day at 10.30. a.m.) RUGBY, June 25. The newlv-elected House of Commons assembled to-day ifor the formal task of electing a Speaker, following which members will be sworn in during the next two or three days. Over two hundred of the members did not sit in the last Parliament and there was a considerable proportion of these present to witness the election of the Speaker and his conduct to tho chair of the Assembly. Many members arrived early to claim their seats in the Chamber, two actually entering their names last night. These were joined by others at midnight and in the early hours of the morning. This number was further increased before business began. At the Assembly of the House of Commons this afternoon, Air Baldwin rose from his seat on the Opposition benches and held out his hand to Mr MacDonald, the new Prime Minister, who shook it warmly, as tho ex-Prime Minister congratulated him on his success at the polls. Members cheered as Prime Minister and ex-Prime Minister walked together to the House of Lords, where tho Commons went to receive the King’s message bidding them elect a Speaker. On returning to the Commons, Mr Gillett (Labour member) and Lord Hugh Cecil, proposed and seconded the re-election of Captain Fitzroy (Conservative member for Daventryj who succeeded Mr Whitley as Speaker.. Both paid a tribute to the unfailing impartiality and judgment Captain Fitzroy displays in the chair. His election was adopted unanimously and after the Prime .Minister, Air Baldwin, and Air Lloyd George, as leaders of the three parties, had congratulated him, Mr Gillett and Lord Cecil, in accordance with the old custom, proceeded to where Captain Fitzroy was seated on a back Lencli and each, taking a hand, conducted him to the Speaker’s chair, which according to ritual, he accepted with symbolic reluctance. Afterwards Captain Fitzroy thanked the House and was loudly cheered. To-morrow the House of Commons will be summoned to the House of Lords to hear the King’s approval of their choice, and the rest of the week will be occupied with the swearing in of members.

Next Tuesilny, business really begins with the reading of the King’s Speech.