THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3409, 13 February 1920, Page 7

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

THE KING ’S SPEECH.

FA R—Bl'] ACHING REFORMS FORE

SH.-’\DO\\'ED‘

LONDON, Feb. 10.

The King, in his speech at the opening of Parlilanient, after allusion to Peace ratification, empliasisedl the excellent relations existing with all Allies, and the necessity for the restoration not only of peace, but alsoof normal economic conditions in Easterrr Europe and Russia. Referringnto the Prince of Wales’ visit to the Doniinions, the King announced his assent to the proposal that the Prince should visit Australia and New Zealand, adding: The Prince of Wales will take the opportunity, on the return voyage of seeing some of our West Indian possessions. He will, I feel confident, receive a. ‘cordial welcome every\\'hel'e, both from old comrades in arms and all classes of the community.

Referring to the economic situation, His Majesty stressed the fact that if lasting progress and social peace were to be ensured all classes must continue to throw themselves into the work of reconstruction with goodwill for otliers, with energy and patience. Legislation providing large and far-reacliing measures of reform must be passed. ‘-His Majesty proceeded to outline legislyation, including a Hill dealing with Ireland; Irish education; coal industry, with State acquisition of coal; royalties for the purpose of improving conditions in mining areas; regulation of sales of liquor; development of fisher-

-1'05; :01'ganisati0n vof tcnitorios; unemployed insurance; regulation of

hours; minimum wages; and tuitirlumping. He also,alludod to the reform of the House of Lords. -

Dealing with Agriculture, the speech stated that the United Kingdom is still dangerously dependent for food supplies from overseas. His Majesty said that adverse exeh'aLngg was niaking ‘the financial burden very great, and he n.<lde(l that uneasiness was also caused by the unprecedented sale of landed T)l‘opCl:ty since the war. Measures were accordingly proposed to mitigate any llal'(lS'hip which this Operation might cause the occupier, and to stimulate the production of essential foorlstuffs within tTle United Kingdom.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

LONDON, Feb 10

Mr Lloyd George, in like }I011s.; of Commons, following Mr 1\I(3LflI‘(‘ll, indicated that he would ideal wil‘ll several important subjects :1‘; a later stage. Mr Lloyd George said the re-u.l explanation of dear-V living was not due to profiteering, but to devaluation of money. This existed ‘the world over. "We were now paying over six shillings in the pound in America for all purchases. The only remedy was increased production. In I'efel'ence to economy, he was glad to s'3.y ‘the forthcoming budget would more than balance. _

A L UXURIO US SPIu‘CTACI.I~

LONDON. Feb. 10.

Parliament opened in drizzling rain, with all the pomp and circumstance of Peace time. The opening route was from ‘the Palace to the old Palace

Yard, which was thronged, while a brilliant assemblage met the Sovereign within the presincts of Westniinster. The stately ceremony epitomised the ' nation ’s_hi‘sTory and the spectacle was !surrounded by all the old glamour. l Crowds cheered in the Mall, at Whitehall, and in Parliament Square, when their Majesties’ glass coach, drawn ;by six black horses. with outriders, ‘passed. The SOVol'Oigll’.~< escort was accompanied -by five State land-aus. with the Mistress of the Robes, the VVomen of the Bedehambcr, and other Officers of the Court and Royal household. Their Majesties were received by Great Otficers of State in "Victoria Tower, and conducted to the robing room, whence they went in procession 'Tllrough the Royal Gallery. Eight hundred peeresses, wives of Commoners. and ‘distinguished visitors watched the procession through the gallery; where. during the war, wounded soldiers and sailors, many of whom were from the Dominions, were accommodated. At a similar ceremonial, Lord Curzon, bearing the sword of State, headed the procession; the Marquis of Londonderry with the Cup of MaintenBIICC, Was also prominent. A l')l'llll'3.llt‘ group surrounded ‘the ‘Throne when their Mzrjesties were seated. I The Prince of \Vales drove from York ‘House with an escort of the Household Cavalry, and was loudly cheered-en route. I‘.‘[(_» occupied a Chair

of State on the I"igh'f of the Throne.

All peers remaincr standing until the King commanded, “Pray he Noaf0(1."

The Black Robe then summolled I\lcrnbm's of the House of Commins, who filed in, led by the Speaker in black: and gold robes. A

SYDNEY COAL OUTPU-1 INTI;‘RNA'I‘[ONAL EXHIBITION WANTED. SYDNEY, this day. Coal production in N.S.W. for the year shows a reduction. of 431,622 tons. compared with ‘the previous year_ A rcpr'esent'a.tive committee was formed; wllich \vai‘rml Cn Ml‘ Holman wifih :1 proposal to hold an intgl-na. tional e:<llibi’fion in Sydney in two 01. three years’ time to celebrate p(_>acQ_ The Pl'omiex'promisod that Cabinet would consider the-mu‘rtol'.

BULGARIA OITENDS GREECE‘

ATHENS, Feb. 9‘

The Bulgarian Government has‘rocalled all officc-I's on NlO rcfired list; ostensibly to oflicer now gendarlnol'ir.\ .1-egiments», and fill other quasi-military officcs. Athenian newspapers regard the action as a brc-zlch of the ’l‘rea‘ty.

PRESIDENT WILSON. HIS HEALTH IMPROVING. WASHING'I‘OI\;. Feb. 10, Dr. Young, at specialist‘, who has been attending President Wilson il'ognlal'ly, interviewed, said: We diagnosed President Wilso.n’s illness last‘ October as cerebral thombosis, which had aifectccl his left arm and leg, but not impaired his brain power in the slightest degwe. The ‘arm and log aux now functioning nioie and more nol'mall_\f, and the whole organism is steadily iinproviiig. President \Vilso.n’s mental vigour is prodigious. ‘

THE COAL CVONFERENCB. WIa‘LLINGTON, Feb. 11. The Coal C‘Qnfol-once adjourned till to-nlorro\\'. Ml‘ :\las.<cy in‘r'or'mod a I'opol‘tol- ‘that the discussion was proceeding in :1 friendly f'3.shion. It was likely To be prolonged.

WAR CRIMINALS. FR.-*XNCE’S DETERI\[IN.—\TION. PARIS. Feb. E). M. _-Nlilloraud, at tho Ambassadors’ COI1fC!'(‘Il('.(‘, said if r9cessv3.l'y the I’o\\'r.-rs ought not to lwsitale to ‘try the war criminals in absoutia in ol'clm' to make it clear to Germany that she has not fulfilled an important provision of the '.l‘ro'3.’ry. He opposed entrusting TllO task to the League of Nations.

ARVY OFFICERS’ RESOLUTIONS.

Bllll{rllL\', Fob. 9

A. ]ll('(‘fill,Q' of army Offic.Cl'E' passed :1 N .~3<,»lution giving‘ mlif"m‘m illStl'uct"loll.< to W3l‘ crhninals appearing beforv Allied tribunals. They should T\‘(‘.'ll' mufti with no distinction. Each should say in Gornuln: “As 21 GCFIIIIIII soldier I cannot acknowledge you. ’l‘herefol'c I refuse to reply to any flu'thol‘ quesHmls. ‘H

CI’I.i\R("rES AGAl.N>f‘,'l‘ CRC)\V'N PRINCE.

LONDON, Feb. 11

The Allies’ list charges the Crown prince with ordering the burning of every French '°vill'3.ge where French troops were found, also the massacre at Etho and the pillaging and deporting of inllabitants and systematic devastation. His brothers Eifel and August are accused of looting. Hindemburg and Ludondm'l’f:' aro‘,e}larged as crinlinal.~' with departing and I."3.rx‘_Vixlg off women and girls and the systc-ma« tic doStl‘uction of property. Pl'inL'(r Ruppl‘e<-ht is acctlsorl of shooting‘ British prisoners. Goneraln S'tcsngel' is charged with isstfing an order in A11;1'11.~'t, .1914, Hvat all pl'isonel':< be mas—sacred.

The I)eb;lts insists that there must be no modification of the Treaty wi‘iohout Q3l-1-ggppyldiylg‘ f'.OlnpCHSatioll fl‘Om Germany.

will be ratified quickly and that no

more than twenty—two negative votes will be cast.

IMPERIAL STATIS'I‘ICS. LONDON, Feb. 10. The Imperial Stafisticifl conference has completed its work on the collection and co-ordination of dam relating to agriculture, forests, crops. forecast of fisheries, land tenure, and irrigation, also a quinquennial agricultural census. A scheme was completed. for the formation of an Imper-

in] Statistics Bureau and it is to be thoroughly representative of all parts of the Empire. A committee on -the census of population of the Empire is sitting under_ the chairmanls.hip of Sir George Knibbsv, Australia.