Imperial Parliament.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 230, 3 October 1904, Page 4

Imperial Parliament.

o ■ END OP THE SESSION OF 1904.

THE KING'S SPEECH. At the conclusion of ordinary business .in the House of Lords 0 n Aug l . 15, tlie Lord Chancellor read the King's Speech, "in His Majesty's own words," as follows : My Lords and Gentlemen,—My relations with foreign Powers continue to be of a satisfactory character. I. have paid visits to the King of Den-' mark at Copenhagen and to the (ier- j man Emperor at Kiel. My reception was inj each c a se of the most cordial description. Agreements l have been entered into between my Government and that of the French Republic for the settlement of a series of questions involving the interests of both countries in diflerent parts of the world. These! agreements will not only be advantageous 1 in themselves to all concerned, but will have the effect of terially strengthening, the ties of

friendship, which now so happily! unite my subjects and the citizens of. the Trench Republic. Agreements for referring certain classes of questions to arbitration I have been concluded between my Go-, vernment and the Governments of Italy, Spain and Germany. I The King of Italy has pronounced | his arijiltra'! award with regard to the boundary between my c o lony of British Guiana and the United States I of Brazil, with the result that a long-standing cause of difficulty be* tweon the colony and the neigh-, bouring Republic has been satisfac- ' torily removed. Arrangements will be made at once for putting the award into effect. i

The military operations in Somuliland have ended in the infliction of a severe defeat upon the Mullah's forces, and, with the exception of a temporary garrison to cover the organising the tribes with a view to their own defence, my troops and those of the Emperor Menelik, who were acting in co-operation with them, Have been' withdrawn. , Hostilities are, I regret to say,' still in progress between Russi a ana Japan. Upon the outbreak of war I issued a proclamation declaring my neutrality, and enjoining upon all my people the strict observance thereof. Inportamt questions lnvolv-; ing the treatment of neutral Commerce at the hands of belligerents ' have arisen in connection with these operations. The Issues involved, which are of the gravest moment to

the trade of my Empire, will, T trust, be amicably settled, and without prejudice to the vast commercial interests of this country. My Government will energetically support my subjects in the exercise of the rights recognised by international law as belonging to neutrals. The scheme for the re-organl so-Won of the Macedonian gendarmerie lias beep put into operation, and the foreign officers appointed by the Powers are now employed in the areas assigned to them. Their efforts, Ulster the able direction pf General de Giorgs I'asha, promise satisfactory results. A scheme for the reform of the tithe system has been elaborated by the civil agents, and has 'been applied experimentally in certain districts. i

On the advice of my Government I have decided to sanction the introduction of an elective element into the Legislative Council of the Transvaal, and I trust that all classes of my subjects In that colony : will unite in rendering this step iji ! the direction of ultimate self-govern-' incut conducive to tho welfare and development of this part of my d 0 I minions.

The political mission which, with the concurrence of the Chinese Government, I found it necessary to despatch into Thibetan territory, in oi*der to secure the due observance of the Convention of 1890 relating to■ Sikkim and Thibet, lias encountered | some resistance in its advance. Its safe arrival at Lhassa affords me the greatest satisfaction, and reflects thehighest credit on tho officers and ! men composing the small forco employed. I trust that, by conference with the Thibetan authorities, in conjunction with the Chinese representative at Lhassa, terms may be arranged wMch will facilitate trade and put an- end to the difficulty and friction which have arisen .on the northern frontier of my Indian Empire. Gentlemen of the House of Commons,—l thank' you for the satisfactory provision which you made for ' tho requirements of the public ror- I vice.

My Lords and Gentlemen,—l have been glad to note the attention which you have given to the important questions affecting the reorganisation of my Army and its central administration. 1 trust that these reforms will conduce to the defensive strength of my Empire.

The enactments contained in the measure for reducing the number 0 f existing licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquora and for regulating new grunts constitute a sensililo improvement of the present law, and while calculated to .further the cause of temperance andi public order,avuldj any injustice to those interests which have grown up im'lei' the ptovailing system. My assent has been given to a liilli for securing that the educational reforms embodied in the Act of 15)02 shall be impartially applied for the' benefit of all children attending pil> : lie element a ry schools in England, and Wales. I

A measure has been passod to give approval to the arrangements which are included in tho Convention which I have entered into with the Government of the French Republic j A Bill designed to facilitate the earlier closing of shops throughout I the United Kingdom has received my assent.

In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Providence may rest upon all your labours. The Lord Chancellor then declared Parliament formally prorogued until Thursday, Nov. 3, and the Session of 1904 was brought to a close at 10 minutes past six o'clock. I