§ Mr. SPEAKERI have to acquaint the House that this house has this day attended His Majesty in the House of Peers, and that His Majesty was pleased to make a Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, of which, for greater accuracy, I have obtained a copy, which is as followeth:
§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:
§ IT has given Me much pleasure to receive My Ministers from the Dominions and the Representatives of India who are attending the Imperial Conference. I watch with deep interest the progress of their labours, the satisfactory result of which I shall confidently await.
§ I hope soon to welcome the Representatives of the Princes and Peoples of India who are about to join with members of all Parties in both Houses of Parliament to consider the future constitutional position of India.
§ My intention is to inaugurate this Conference, and I earnestly trust that in the conclusion of its proceedings may be found agreed and wise solutions of those important questions upon which it will be railed to deliberate.
§ My relations with Foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
§ I was very glad to entrust My Son, the Duke of Gloucester, with the duty of representing Me at the coronation of the Emperor of Ethiopia.
§ My Government took an active part in the proceedings of the Assembly of the League of Nations in September last. General agreement was reached upon the Treaty of Financial Assistance to States Victims of Aggression which was recently signed at Geneva. The application of this Treaty is conditional upon the coming into force of a General Disarmament Convention, which I trust will shortly he concluded.
§ Members of the House of Commons:
§ Estimates for the Public Service will be laid before you.
6§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:
§ I follow with grave concern and sympathy the continuance of heavy unemployment among so many of My People.
§ Economic depression unfortunately continues to dominate the markets of the world and the accompanying restriction of international trade is felt with particular severity in those industries which are especially dependent on export.
§ My Government will persist in its efforts to develop and extend home, Imperial and foreign trade and to help in measures which will lead to greater efficiency in industry.
§ Proposals will be laid before you for the promotion of increased settlement and employment on the land, and of large-scale farming operations, and for the acquisition and improvement of agricultural land in need of re-conditioning; and for the organisation of producers for marketing purposes.
§ I propose immediately to set up a Commission to inquire into the whole question of Unemployment Insurance and in particular into the allegations of abuse of its provisions. The Commission will be asked to present interim Reports on the most pressing questions and, if required, legislation based upon them will be introduced. In the meantime a measure to make further financial provision for the Unemployment Fund will be laid before you.
§ My Ministers propose to introduce legislation to secure for the community its share in the site value of land.
§ Measures will be submitted to you for raising the Age of Compulsory School Attendance, for amending the law relating to Trade Disputes and Trade Unions, and for the setting up of a Consumers' Council.
§ My Ministers propose to introduce legislation for the modification and extension of the Law relating to town planning and to the preservation of rural amenities; and for the amendment and consolidation of the Factory Acts.
7§ A Measure of Electoral Reform will be submitted to you.
§ Bills will also be laid before you to enable the ratification of the Washington Hours Convention and of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and for the establishment of a new statutory authority to deal with passenger traffic in London.
§ I pray that, under the blessing of God, the outcome of your deliberations may advance the happiness and well-being of My people.