BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1904, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

[OPEXIXO OF IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. SPEECH FROM THE TIIKONK. UINIKIN, !•',■:.. .'). Tin' sesriuii of I lie Imperial I'.u-liaiiu-nt for I<JU-1 was op.-n.-d on Monday, amid much splendour, King EdwuiU and Queen Alexandra being present in State. In the Speech from (he Throne- it was declared (liat the relations between llritnin and foreign powers , were satisfactory. His Majesty, however, watched with concern the negotiations preeeoding betwei n .Japan and Russia. The Government woulU gladly nffond any assistance that could be uscfnliy rendered towards arriving at a pacilic solution of the trouble. His .Majesty expressed gratification at the action of the Commonwealth and New Zealand in giving- effect to the naval agreement, and at the sanction of the preferential tut-ill by New Zealand. (Received Feb. 3, 11.17 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. a. King Edward, in his speech at the opening of I'arliainent, expressed lus gratilicalton at the conclusion of the arbitration treaties, and the settlement of the Alaska question with the United States. The Porte, after a regrettable delay, Imwl accepted a revised scheme for dealing with Macedonia, which he trusted would be applied during the winter respite from active rebellion. His Majesty boj>ed that the British political mission to Thibet, undertaken with the concurrence of the Chinese Government, would peacefully secure the provisions of the convention of I'B'JO, relating to Sikhim and Thibet, and so remove a constant source of friction an the frontier.

The 'insulliciency of raw material 1 whereon England's gieat cotton industry deixroleid inspired him with deep concern, ami lit- trusted that efforts in various parts of the Empire to increase cotton cultivation would be attended with a large measure of success. The. bunden of the nation, due to naval and military defence, was undoubtedly serious, but t'he possibility of diminishing it was being carefully considered in connection with army and War Ollice reform.

Among ttio measures promised by the Ministry are bills dealing with alien immigration, licensing, Scottish education, Irish labourers and Irish workers' housing, workmen's compensation, shop hours, sea fisheries, aaid the abolition after the termination of the present Parliament of t'he necessity for the re-elec-tion o1 Commoners accepting Ministerial oflioe. His Majesty's voice was clear anil distinct during tiie recital of the speech. The House of 1/oixls agreed to the A'dtdress-iai-Keply. The Duke of Devonshire sat below the gangway in Hie House of Lords, aiwl Mr Chamberlain, Lord (ieorge Hamilton ami Mr Ritchie below Hie gangway in the Commons, llr Chamberlain occupying the seaPtliat Mr John Bright took after the Home Rule split in 1880.