§ Mr. SPEAKER reported His Majesty's Speech, and read it to the House, as followeth:—
§ My Lord, and Gentlemen,
§ My relations with all foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
§ The establishment of the Union of South Africa has been fixed at the end of May, when its new Government will be constituted, and soon afterwards the first Parliament, representing a consolidated electorate, will be ready to assemble for its important deliberations.
§ I am sending My son, the Prince of Wales, to make an extended journey through My 34 South African possessions in the autumn, before opening, in My name, the first Session of the new Legislature at Cape Town.
§ It is with peculiar interest and pleasure that I contemplate this visit, when My son will hare the privilege, not for the first time, of inaugurating the Parliamentary life of a great united Dominion, and will convey to South Africa, on behalf of Myself and the Umpire, our ardent prayers for the welfare and future progress of her people.
§ In conformity to the important Measure of last year for extending the functions of the Legislative Councils in India and increasing the number of their Members, those bodies have been elected, and have met. They have entered, with good promise, upon the enlarged duties and responsibilities entrusted to them.
§ Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ The Estimates for the service of the ensuing year will be laid before you in due course. They have been framed with the utmost desire for economy; but the requirements of the Naval Defence of the Empire have made it necessary to propose a substantial increase in the cost of My Navy.
§ You will also he asked to complete provision which was made in the last Session of Parliament for the year about to expire, but to which effect has not yet been given.
§ The expenditure authorised by the last Parliament is being duly incurred; but as the revenue required to meet it has not been provided by the imposition of taxation, recourse has been had, under Parliamentary sanction, to temporary borrowing. Arrangements must be made at the, earliest possible moment to deal with the financial situation thus created.
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ Recent experience has disclosed serious difficulties, due to recurring differences of strong opinion between the two branches of the Legislature.
§ Proposals will be, laid before you, with all convenient speed, to define the relations between the Houses of Parliament, so as to secure the undivided authority of the House of Commons over Finance, and its predominance in Legislation. These Measures, in the opinion of My advisers, should provide that this House should be so constituted and, empowered as to exercise impartially, in regard to proposed legislation, the functions of initiation, revision, and, subject to proper safeguards, of delay.
§ I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your labours.