HC Deb 26 October 1950 vol 478 cc2935-7

Mr. SPEAKER and the House proceeded to Westminster Hall to attend HIS MAJESTY The King, with an Address.

Mr. SPEAKER was accompanied by the following Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Legislatures:

CANADA—Hon. W. Ross Macdonald, K.C., M.P.

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH —Hon. A. G. Cameron, M.P.

NEW ZEALAND—Hon. M. H. Oram, M.P.

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA—Hon. J. F. T. Naudé, M.P.

INDIA—Hon. G. V. Mavalankar, M.P.

PAKISTAN—Hon. Mr. Tamizuddin Khan, M.C.A.

CEYLON—Hon. Sir A. F. Molamure, K.B.E., M.P.

SOUTHERN RHODESIA—Hon. Sir Allan Welsh.

NORTHERN IRELAND—Rt. Hon. Sir Norman Stronge, Bt., M.C., M.P.

BAHAMAS—Hon. Asa H. Pritchard, M.H.A.

BARBADOS—Hon. K. N. R. Husbands, M.H.A.

BERMUDA—Hon. J. W. Cox, C.B.E., M.H.A.

GAMBIA—Hon. P. Wyn Harris, C.M.G., M.B.E., M.L.C.

GOLD COAST—Hon. E. C. Quist, O.B.E., M.L.C.

BRITISH GUIANA—Hon. C. V. Wight, C.B.E., M.L.C.

BRITISH HONDURAS—Dr. the Hon. W. A. George, M.L.C.

JAMAICA—Hon. C. C. Campbell, M.H.R.

KENYA—Hon. W. K. Horne, M.L.C.

FEDERATION OF MALAYA—Sir Henry Gurney, K.C.M.G.

MAURITIUS—Hon. Sir Hilary Blood, K.C.M.G., M.L.C.

NIGERIA—Hon. Sir John Macpherson, K.C.M.G., M.L.C.

NORTHERN RHODESIA—Hon. T. S. Page, C.B.E., M.L.C.

SINGAPORE—Hon. Sir Franklin Gimson, K.C.M.G., M.L.C.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO—Hon. A. R. W. Robertson, C.B.E., M.L.C.

WINDWARD ISLANDS—Hon. T. A. Marryshow, C.B.E., M.L.C.

ISLE OF MAN—Hon. J. D. Qualtrough, C.B.E., M.H.K.

GUERNSEY—Sir Ambrose Sherwill, C.B.E., M.C.

JERSEY—Sir Alexander Coutanche.

The Address from the House of Commons, presented by Mr. SPEAKER, was in the following words:

Most Gracious Sovereign,

We Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled humbly beg leave to offer to Your Majesty our most hearty thanks for the arrangements which Your Majesty was pleased to (make with the most willing assent of the House of Lords) for our accommodation in Your Palace of Westminster since the destruction of the House of Commons nine years ago. We also tender our most grateful thanks to Your Majesty for having caused the rebuilding, on the same site, of that Chamber in Your Palace of Westminster which was allocated for the use of the Commons by Your Royal Predecessor Queen Victoria nearly a hundred years ago and which was destroyed by the malice of Your enemies in 1941.

In that dark time, when almost ah Europe lay beneath the heel of the conqueror, Your Majesty's peoples stood firmly together and freely shed their blood in the cause of democratic freedom. In this same generous spirit those Peoples have given lavishly of the natural products of their soil and of their own skill and industry to brighten and adorn the new Chamber which You have set apart for our use.

We thank Your Majesty for the gracious message directing us to occupy the new Chamber on Thursday the 26th day of October and for the arrangements which have enabled the Speakers, Presiding Officers or their deputies of so many countries of the Commonwealth and Empire to be present on this occasion.

in all humility we trust that with God's help our deliberations in our new Chamber may result in securing the peace, well being and happiness not only of our own people and the peoples of the Commonwealth but of all the peoples of the world.