HOME POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1920, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. A PEACE TIME CEREMONY, Br Telepaph.—Preis Aaan.—CoDyrtght. London, Feb. 10. Parliament opened in drizzling rain, with all the pomp and circumstance of a peace-time offering. The route from the Palace to Old Palace yard was thronged, while a brilliant assemblage met the Sovereign within the precincts of Westminster. The stately ceremony epitomised the nation's history, and the spectacle was surrounded by all the old glamor. Crowds cheered in the Mall, sWhitehall, and Parliament Square when their Majesties, in the glass coach drawn by six black horses with outriders, passed. Accompanying them in five State landaus were the Mistress pf the Robes, Women of. the' Bedchamber, and other officers of 'the Coiirt and Royal Household. Their Majesties were received by the great Officers of State in the, Victoria Tower and conducted to th* Robing Room, whence they went in.procession through the Royal Gallery. Eight hundred Peeresses, wives of members, and distinguished visitors watched the procession through the gallery, where, during the war, wounded soldiers and sailors, many of whom were from the Dominions, are re accommodated, at a similar ceremonial. Lord Curzon,' bearing the Sword of State, headed the procession, and the Marquess of Londonderry, with the Cap of Maintenance, was also prominent. A brilliant group surrounded the Throne wheh their Majesties were seated. t The Prince of Wales drove from York House with an escort of Household Cavalry, and was loudly cheered en route. .He occupied a Chair of State on the right of the Throne. All the Peers remained standing until the King's command, "Pray be seated." Black Rod then summoned members of the House of Commons, who filed in, led by the Sp&ker in black and gold robes. Received Feb. 12, 1.40 p.m. London, Feb. 10. The Ring delivered his speech sitting. The ceremony occupied half an hour. The Royalties returned in a procession to the Royal Gallery, and thence to the Palace. They were again cheered along the route. •-Atts.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS THE COALITION ATTACKED. Received Feb. 12, 11.5 p.m. London, Feb. 10. After the Address had been proposed tnd seconded in the House of Commons, Sir Donald MacLe&n (Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party) said the time for the Coalition to end had come, and ( K should be replaced by a newly- elected body, fresh from the electorates. He twitted Ministers with the remarkable spectacle of the Lord Chancellor putting on the black cap and sentencing his own Government to death. The Coalition had - outgrown its usefulness as the originator of legislation. Mr. William A damson (Chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party) complained of the Government's failure to reduce the cost of living. Only a most generous measure of Home Rule would satisfy reasonable people in Ireland, and ' this should he given, and military rule withdrawn.

Mr, Lloyd George followed. Tlie Labor Party has given notice of en amendment to the Address, regretting the absence of reference to the nationalisation of the coal mines. Other amendments deal with the cost of living, and the Russian situation. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Feb. 13, 12.45 a.m. London, Feb. 11. Lord Hugh Cecil approved the main lines of the Premier's Russian policy. He suggested another effort should be made to solve the Irish problem by meuiß of a convention.—Aua.-N.Z. Cable 4sin-

NEW MEASURES. THE PROBLEM OF IRELAND. Received Feb. 12, 10 p.m. London, Feb 10. In the House of Commons, Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Chancellor of . the Exchequer) gave notice of a Bill to amend the law regarding the standard finances of silver coinage in Britain and the Dominions. ifx, Lloyd George gave notice of the XriAb 1 IJilJ.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.