OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 335, 8 February 1911, Page 5

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE KINGS' SPEECH. BALFOUR AND ASQUITH. By Teleirvuph.—l'ros> Assoc kit ion. —CojiyriffJit London, Monday. A couple of hours previous to the House of Commons assembling, the Labour party, after electing Mr Ramsay Mac Donald chairman, were photographed in their places in the Chamber, the Speaker giving permission for the unusual incident. After a protracted meeting the Nationalists approved payment of members as a democratic measure, but requested that Irish members be exempted, and the money devoted to some useful public purpose in Ireland. There was the usual Royal procession when the House of Commons assembled. In "the House of Lords the King made the revised Accession Declaration. The High Commissioners of the overseas dominions occupied seats on the right of the Throne. The king wore a naval uniform. The King's Speech refers to the late King Edward's death, the South African Union, the Imperial Conference, and announces the Parliament (Veto) Bill, Paupers' Pensions and Insurance Against Sickness, Invalidity, or Unemployment in Trades specially liable thereto.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Received February 7, 10.30 p.m. London, Yesterday. In the House of Commons on the Address-in-Reply, Mr Balfour censured Mr Churchill for withholding the military in South Wales mining troubles, and twitted him with attending Sydney street (the Houndsditch affair), in the company of a photographer when the attack was made on the Socialists' Club. He declared the Empire was now on the point of development. Where Britain was so simply first among equals, as equals, it was not our business to comment on the action and motives of the Dominions, but if an agreement between Canada and the United States was fully carried out it would have very dire results upon the future of the Empire, and it can hardly fail to make Canada commercially and economically dependent upon America. For generations Canadian statesmen had developed trade on Imperial lines and millions had been spent in establishing the system of transport from East to West. If the policy of reciprocity with America was carried outit was the result of the Government refusing to listen to the long pleading of Canadian statesmen. Mr Asquith, in replying to Mr Balfour's censures, said Mr Churchill suffered from the dangerous endowment of an interesting personality. He showed a cool head and a wise discretion in connection with the South Wales troubles. It would be wise to defer criticism until we know whether the Canadian and United States agreement had found favour in Canada. At present it was only an agreement ad referendum. He was certain Britain wouid have done nothing to prevent the natural trend of events, and there had been nothing in the long run which would be beneficial to Canada, if, for the sake of preferential relations, they put a tax on food from Russia, the Argentine and other countries outside the Empire. It was as certain a3 the rising sun that the United States, sooner or later, would be forced to lower its tariff walla.