THE KING’S SPEECH

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1932, Page 3

THE KING’S SPEECH

SESSION OPENS

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

RUGBY, November 23.

The King and Queen drove in state from Buckingham Palace to the Lords, where His Majesty opened the new session of Parliament. The pageant was witnessed. by a vast crowd'. Before the procession arrived, the Prince of Wales, in a State land an drove to the Lords, and was accorded a popular reception. The speech was ro d by the King from the Throne, including the following passsages: “It us my earnest hope that the Lausanne Conference wild be able “to reach, fan agreement on the measures required “to dial with tlie O'.uses, which, brought about the present economic and financial d'.fficul ties'. The 'world conference for the reduction and limitation of armarrii.nfc?, now sitting at Geneva, embodies the hope and effort of mankind to induce the greatest measures of general disarmament that can be obtained, My Government will continue, in full co-operatiOn with all other members of the conference, to work for the international convention which will be a foundation for lasting peace.

“My Ministers, and other members *<f both .Houses are meeting in conference, representatives from the Indian States rend British Indiai They hope thereafter to place before you proposals * -foir-* the further constitutional development of India. The decisions to be taken will he of great moment to the whole of my Empire, and I shall watch your deliberations with deej) interest. “Although the various conversion schemes, which' have been sucees fuHy carried through, offer, a prospect of large reductions in the service of the national debt, it is still necessary to p.vercb’ei carefill supervi-ion over public expenditure, both national and Frol. Measures elreadty taken to assist British industry in the Home markets overseas, created a feeling of oreater ■’pTifidenfe. My Government will continue to do everything in their/ power, to stimulate the recovery of trade.

“Agriculture has long been depressed by the general fall in wholesale prices of its products. My Ministers recognise that though the measures recently taken, „ in regard to meat and other products have beer of real assistance to producers, further plans are neces ary to enabl' agriculture, as a whole, to take its proper place in ' the economy of the nation.

“My Government intend to bring forward ideas dealing comprehensive l.y with unemployment insurance, and die treatment of those unable to ob tain work.” ,

The Speech declared that a restoration of presn +rity in agriculture couA not be expected until wholesale prices had risen to a more normal level. Long reference' was made to' unemployment, and' particular stress was expressed on the fact that many young aitc-n and women had never in their Jives an opportunity of regular employment. The forthcoming measures win deal with unemployment insurance, other unemployed problems and rent restriction.

There \yas a largo attendance in the Conimons when the debate on the Address-in-Rcjiy began. Members of,ll parties cheered when Mr Winston Churchill mode his first appearance spice his recent illness. . The Prime Minister dealt with the criticism levelled at the Government’s policy by Mr Lansbury regarding unemployment. He said that the Labour Party tried to deal with the problem by provision of relief work, but when the expenditure had reached the highest point, the unemployed figures were going rapidly up. Conditions and the state of unemployment, two years ago, were w/se than at present. The Governmen are faced up to tlie fact that when trade recovered to a degree which any could reasonably expect, there would still be a largo residium <jf unemployed. It was, therefore not a question of temporary relief. The revival of the agiiculture was essential to their plans. . Regarding' the foreign outlook, the Premier said that the wor-di Economic Conference was finding some obstacles in the way. The British Government would continue to press for the earliest possible meeting. LA 800 B CRITICISM. Mr Lansbury said that the Kings /pCecil was unworthy of being put into His Majesty’s hands. It promised no action concerning the greatest problem of the day, and not a word of sympathy with the Irish people, suffering from an economic war. He condemned the lack of action to deal puickly- with the suffering and distress due to unemployment. If they Hired*, a decent maintenance could be provided for everyone.

Sir H. Samuel said that people were already sceptical about the tariffs arising from the Ottawa, agreements. The world had 30 million unemoloyed, and tire cure must he international. Britain might begin by following the examples of Holland and Belgium and from the largest nossible group l °f low tariff eounti ies, the members of which would undertake to reduce tariffs among tlumsblves. Secondly, Britain should clieck her own tar'ff increases, and recognise that me>rc'y local oi nat ionril attempts to raise price levels were both futile and dangerous. He recognised that no statement, at present,, was advisable about the American'debt. Tt was not a. question of whether Europe would afford to pav, hut whether the United States could afford: to receive, as the consequent oxeluson of goods would injure America and every other country. The debate was adjourned.