Lords Sitting of 16 December 1911

JUDICIAL BUSINESS.
Order of yesterday, for the meeting of the House on Monday next at a quarter before Eleven o'clock, for the purpose of hearing and determining Appeals, and matters connected therewith, pursuant to he provisions of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 1876, discharged.
Ordered, That the House do meet on Tuesday next after the Prorogation of Parliament, and on such other days as may be ordered, for the purpose of hearing and determining Appeals, and that during such meeting of the House leave be given to the Appeal Committee to meet and appoint their own Chairman.

VISCOUNT HAWARDEN.
Report made from the Lord Chancellor that the right of Robert Cornwallis, Viscount Hawarden in the Peerage of Ireland, to vote at the elections of Representative Peers for Ireland has been established to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
Ordered, That the Report of the Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom, made to the House of Lords this day, that the right of the Viscount Hawarden to vote at the elections of Representative Peers for Ireland has been established to his satisfaction be sent to the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland together with a certificate stating that such report has been made, and that the House has ordered it to be sent to the said Clerk of the Crown in Ireland.

BARON BELLEW.
Petition of George Leopold Bryan, Baron Bellew in the Peerage of Ireland, claiming a right to vote at the elections of Representative Peers for Ireland; read, and referred to the Lord Chancellor to consider and report thereupon to the House.
MARRIAGES IN JAPAN (VALIDITY) BILL. [H.L.]
A Bill to remove doubts as to the validity of certain marriages solemnized in the Empire of Japan—Was presented by the Lord Chancellor; read 1a, and to be printed. (No. 255.)
NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL.
Petition for amendment of: of Birmingham and District Clerks Provident. Association: read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
SHOPS BILL.
To be printed as amended in Committee of the Whole House. (No. 256.)
RAG FLOCK BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendment, agreed to.

HOUSE LETTING AND RATING (SCOTLAND) BILL.
COAL MINES BILL.
BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) AMEND MENT BILL.
SHOPS BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments, agreed to.

NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL.
Returned from the Commons with several of the Amendments agreed to, and with one of the Amendments agreed to with amendments:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (VISCOUNT HALDENE): My Lords. I move that we agree to the Commons Amendments, which are not of substance.
Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.— (Viscount Haldane.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.
The following Bills received the Royal Assent—

Finance.

National Insurance.

Merchandize Marks.

Copyright.

Education (Administrative Provisions) (No. 2).

Telegraph (Construction).

Isle of Man Harbours.

Pacific Cable.

Merchant Shipping (Stevedores and Trimmers) (No. 2).

Resident Magistrates (Belfast).

Rag Flock.

Moneylenders (No. 2).

Conveyancing.

Merchant Shipping.

Lunacy.

University of Wales (No. 2).

Coal Mines.

Shops.

Small Landholders (Scotland).

House Letting and Rating (Scotland).

Burgh Police (Scotland) Amendment.

Local Authorities (Ireland) (Qualification of Women).

Railway Companies (Accounts and Returns).

Maritime Conventions.

Military Manœuvres.

Telephone Transfer Amendment.

Public Roads (Ireland).

Naval Discipline (Dominion Naval Forces).

Salford Hundred Court of Record.

Townhead Street (sheffield) Baptist Chapel Charity.

Bridge and Causeway (Gloucester) Charity.

Birkby Baptist Chapel Charity.

Humberstone Wesley Chapel Charity.

Epping Chapel Charity.

Stonehaven Harbour Order Confirmation.

Commons Regulation (Burrington) Provisional Order.

Commons Regulation (Winton and Kaber) Provisional Order.

Kelso Water Order Confirmation.

Glasgow and South-Western Railway Order Confirmation.

Lerwick Harbour Order Confirmation.

Local Government Provisional Orders (No.7).

Local Government Provisional Orders (No. 10).

Pier and Harbour Provisional Order (No. 4).

Thorney Drainage.

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Saint Mary Radcliffe Rectory.

Saint Mary Prestwich Rectory.

Belfast Corporation.

Lord Acton's Nationality.

Maxwell's Divorce.

Pilkington's Divorce.

Watson's Divorce.

HIS MAJESTY'S SPEECH.
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,
"My relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
"I am happy to say that the negotiations which have taken place between the Governments of France and Germany in regard to Morocco—a matter in which My Government was concerned by its treaty engagements—have been brought to a conclusion.
"In the state of war which unhappily exists between Italy and Turkey I have issued a proclamation declaring the strict neutrality of this country.
"The deliberations of the Imperial Conference in May and June bore witness to the harmony of the relations subsisting between the Governments of the United Kingdom and of the self governing Dominions beyond the Seas and to the growing consciousness of their common interests, as well as to the spirit of loyalty and kinship which pervades these Dominions and adds lustre to My Crown.
"I trust that the labours of the Royal Commission which will shortly be appointed to enquire into the natural resources and the improvement of the trade of the Empire may be fruitful in showing means of ensuring the greater prosperity and promoting the mutual intercourse of My Dominions.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"I thank you for the liberality with which you have made provision for the services of the year.
"My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"The relations between the two Houses of Parliament have been adjusted by the passing of the Parliament Act.
"I have given My assent to a Bill which will supplement the policy already sanctioned by Parliament by extending the benefit of Old Age Pensions to persons previously disqualified by reason of the receipt of poor-law relief.
"It is with great satisfaction that I have assented to a Bill to provide for the insurance of the industrial population against loss of health and for the prevention and cure of sickness among them and for the insurance against unemployment of those engaged in trades specially liable to it.
"I anticipate with confidence that the operation of this measure, while fortifying existing inducements to thrift and self-reliance, will do much to alleviate misery and to check disease among those whose social conditions it is designed to ameliorate; and to mitigate the hardships caused to workmen and their families by those depressions in the labour market which are especially felt in certain precarious trades.
"An Act has been passed consolidating and amending the law relating to Copyright. This measure will enable Me to accede to the International Convention recently signed at Berlin; and when supplemented by corresponding legislation in My self-governing Dominions will, I trust, provide a comprehensive and equitable code of law regulating this important subject throughout My Empire.
"The Act effecting modifications in the land system, and in the agricultural administration of Scotland will, I sincerely hope, confer benefit alike upon the agricultural and crofting population and upon the general community.
"The measure for the consolidation and amendment of the Coal Mines Regulation Acts, which marks a great advance on previous legislation for the health and safety of persons employed in the mining industry, met with general acceptance on all sides, and its passage was made the easier by the mutual good-will with which it was received by the representatives of the owners and workmen.
"The health and well-being of a large class in the community will be beneficially affected by the Act for Securing a universal half-holiday to Shopkeepers and Shop Assistants.
"I thank you for the assiduity with which you have discharged your arduous duties, and I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your work."
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 Wednesday the Fourteenth day of February One thousand nine hundred and twelve, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday the Fourteenth day of February One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
End of the First Session of the Thirtieth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the Second year of the Reign of His Majesty King George V.