§ And afterwards His Majesty's most gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord Chancellor (in pursuance of His Majesty's Command) as followeth—
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ The recent visit of the King and Queen of Pen mark, who are closely related to Me, gave great pleasure to the Queen and Myself, and cannot fail to improve the friendly relations existing between the two countries.
§ I was much gratified at receiving the visit of His Imperial Highness Prince Fushimi, who had been sent on a Special Mission by My Ally, the Emperor of Japan, to convey His Majesty's thanks for the Order of the Garter, bestowed upon him during the Mission of My nephew, Prince Arthur of Connaught, to Japan in 1906.
§ My relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
§ My Government, animated by the desire to contribute in every possible way 428 to the maintenance of peace, have concluded an Agreement with the Spanish Government for the preservation of their respective interests in that part of the Mediterranean and Atlantic with which both countries are concerned. The terms of this Agreement have been already laid before you. In response to an invitation from the Russian Government, I appointed Delegates to take part in the International Conference now sitting at the Hague. I trust that its deliberations may result in the conclusion of Agreements that will tend to mitigate the evils of war and secure the peace of the world.
§ In the great Dependency of India, certain passing difficulties have not discouraged My Government in framing plans for improving the machinery of administration. These plans have been laid before you, and practical steps have already been taken for securing the presence and advice of Indian Members in the Council of India.
§ The meeting of the Prime Ministers and other leading Statesmen of My Dominions beyond the Seas with the Representatives of the Imperial Government was a source of deep satisfaction to Me, and I note with gratification the arrangement for future meetings at fixed intervals, under the title of "Imperial Conferences," for the free discussion of questions of common concern.
§ The grant of full self-government to the people of the Orange River Colony has been completed, and will, I trust, conduce to their welfare and contentment.
§ Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ I thank you for the liberality with which you have made provision for the needs of the public service and for the reduction of national indebtedness.
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ I have recently reviewed the newly-constituted Home Fleet, and was profoundly impressed by the efficient condition and admirable appearance of My ships, and the fine bearing and discipline of the officers and men of all ranks.
§ Attention has been directed to the problem of the reorganisation of the Forces of the Crown. The broad principles for the reorganisation of the Regular Forces at home into six great divisions 429 have been successfully put into operation. The reorganisation of the Auxiliary Forces into a Home or Second Line Army has been provided for in the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, which has received My assent. In this Act provision has further been made for filling up serious gaps in the Regular or Field Army of the First Line.
§ An important measure has received My sanction for facilitating the acquisition of Small Holdings and Allotments in England and Wales, which will afford opportunities of advancement to the rural population, and will, I hope, act as some check on migration to the towns.
§ I trust that the establishment of a Court of Criminal Appeal will confirm still further the confidence of the public in the administration of justice.
§ I have also given My assent to a measure for the amendment of the existing Law relating to Patents and Designs, with a view especially to restraining the abuse of monopolies and to strengthening the provisions in regard to the revocation of British patents which are worked abroad, but which are not adequately worked in this country.
§ A Bill has also been passed into law for the amendment of the Companies Acts, which, by affording fuller information concerning public companies and by other provisions, will secure a greater degree of protection to creditors, share-holders, and the public generally.
§ I have also sanctioned an Act which will secure certain administrative improvements in public education, and introduce a system of medical inspection of school children.
§ I have given My assent to a measure for the purpose of accelerating the process of providing farms for evicted tenants in Ireland.
§ I have assented to a measure for codifying and in several important particulars altering and improving the whole procedure of the Sheriff Courts in Scotland.
§ Important measures affecting the public health have been passed into law, providing, among other things, for the more efficient protection of the community against injurious food-stuff's, whether imported or home produced, and for the better notification of births.
430§ A grievance of long standing is removed by the passing of the Act for legalising Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister.
§ Further measures have been passed for enabling women to serve on Local Bodies in England and Scotland, for giving My Courts a discretionary power to place offenders under the care of probation officers instead of committing them to prison, for the better regulation of the hours and conditions of labour of the women and girls employed in laundries, for protecting the interests of the producers and consumers of butter, for amending the Vaccination Laws in England and Scotland, and for regulating Whale Fisheries in Scotland.
§ I thank you for the zeal which you have devoted to your arduous labours, and I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend their results.
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
§ After which the Lord Chancellor said:
§ My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name and in obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Saturday the Sixteenth day of November next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Saturday the Sixteenth day of November next.