BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 952, 9 February 1911, Page 4

BRITISH POLITICS.

London, Feb. 6. There was the usual Royal procession when the members of the House of Commons assembled in the House of Lords. The King made the revised accession declaration. The High Commissioners of Oversea Dominions occupied seats on the right of the Throne, The King was in naval uniform. In his speech, which was exceptionally brief, he referred to the friendly foreign relations existing with Great Britain. He said he was hopeful of the arrangement of a new commercial treaty with Japan. He referred to the improved condition of the trade routes in Persia and also to the interest taken in the coming Imperial Conference. A couple of hours previous to the House of Commons assembling, the Labour Party, after electing Mr Ramsay Macdonald chairman, were photographed in their places in the Chamber, the Speaker giving his permission for this unusual incident.

After a protracted meeting the Nationalists approved of the payment of members as a democratic measure, but requested that Ireland should be exempted and the money devoted to some useful public pm poses in Ireland. At the opening of Parliament the King and Queen were vociferously cheered. The weather was fine and enormous crowds assembled.

The King’s speech refers to King Edward’s death, South African Union, and the Imperial Conference. It announces the proposed introduction of the Parliament Bill, Paupers Pensions, Insurance Against Sickness, Invalidity, and Unemployment and trades specially liable thereto.