Lords Sitting of 1 August 1930

Preamble
The House met at eleven of the clock, the LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
LAND DRAINAGE (OUSE) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
Read 3ª (according to Order), and passed.

RESERVOIRS (SAFETY PROVISIONS) BILL. [H.L.]
Order of the Day for the consideration of Commons Amendments read.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR (LORD THOMSON): My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons Amendments be now considered. I feel that there is some sort of apology due from me personally in this matter. I had a copy for the noble Marquess, the Leader of the Opposition, early yesterday afternoon—a correct copy of the Bill with the Amendments—but I did not pass it to him directly. The noble Earl, Lord Onslow, passed it on. It was the best I could do. The Report stage of the Bill had only been reached in another place at half-past ten the night before, and it was considered desirable, if possible, to get this very small measure through yesterday.
The Commons Amendments are not important. I think it will be for the convenience of the House if I summarise them, to save time. Eight of these Amendments involve the insertion of the phrase "within the meaning of this Act". It is considered desirable to introduce these drafting Amendments in order to make it quite clear at the outset that the qualified civil engineer referred to and defined in the Bill is a person employed in a, special sense, and is a civil engineer who is one of the panel set up under Clause 8. These are, in effect, purely drafting Amendments. There are in addition two Amendments of a somewhat more substantial character. The first of these applies to subsection (5) of Clause 2. Incidentally, there is a minor Amendment in the proviso to that subsection which substitutes
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"employment" for "permanent service". This is really a drafting Amendment.
The other Amendment to that proviso really constitutes a concession. The proviso, as modified, would read as follows:
"Provided that, where there is in the employment of the undertakers a qualified civil engineer within the meaning of this Act, who is responsible to the undertakers for the maintenance of the reservoir, the undertakers may appoint that engineer to make any such inspection and report."
An engineer employed by any set of undertakers who is a member of the panel can make a report independently, and not jointly with an independent engineer. It is really a concession to a point of view which was advanced by, amongst others, the noble Lord, Lord Banbury, who was thinking of big undertakings like the Metropolitan Water Board, who employ highly competent engineers on a more or less permanent basis. By this concession such an engineer would be able to make a report not jointly with an independent engineer appointed by the Secretary of State. It is an Amendment of some substance, but it really meets many of the arguments put forward in your Lordships' House during the debate on Second Reading and on Committee stage. The next Amendment of any substance occurs in Clause 7, page 5, line 19—"within the meaning of this Act".
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SANKEY): May I call the noble Lord's attention to the fact that there are two copies of the Bill, the number of one being 100 and the number of the other 153?
LORD THOMSON: I am dealing with number 153, which is the one on the Table. The Clause I am dealing with, Clause 7, page 8, line 12, relates to liability where damage or injury is caused by the escape of water from a reservoir constructed after the passing of this Act under statutory powers granted after the passing of this Act. That Amendment tends to reduce the number of cases where undertakers of the standing of the Metropolitan Water Board would be under two sets of legal formality—one referring to reservoirs constructed before the passing of this Act and the other referring to reservoirs constructed after the passing

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of this Act. The Amendment tends to reduce the number of cases in which large undertakers with several reservoirs, some constructed before and some after the commencement of this Act, will be subject to some legal liability in respect of the old reservoirs and different liabilities in respect of the new ones. The Bill as it now stands after amendment in another place will reduce the number of cases of these different liabilities because of the insertion of these words "granted after the passing of this Act". It is a very obscure point, but the point is that sonic of these reservoirs constructed before the passing of this Act were constructed under statutory powers and the only limitation now is to reservoirs constructed under statutory powers after the passing of this Act. It is really a limitation of the number of cases of difference. The next Amendment affects Clause 8, subsection (3), on page 8. That subsection is deleted. That is the definition of a civil engineer. That definition is transferred to page 9, Clause 10 subsection (1).
EARL PEEL: Is this a drafting Amendment or something more?
LORD THOMSON: It is practically drafting. I do not know why it has been transferred, but it has been transferred. The words are practically identical. Those are all the Amendments. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Amendments be now considered.—(Lord Thomson.)
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, perhaps as the noble and gallant Lord has made some general observations I may be allowed to say a few words generally. In the first place may I say that, as regards a personal point, I was very grateful to the noble and gallant Lord for having given me yesterday a copy of the Bill with Amendments, written in ink, as to which I think my noble friend who sits behind me made certain observations last night. I need not say that I was obliged to the noble and gallant Lord; but I would like to point out to the Government very respectfully, if I may, that it is not sufficient to hand a copy of a Bill amended in ink to a particular Peer, even if he be the occupier for the moment of the post of Leader of the Opposition. Really the point is that your Lordships ought to have the oppor-
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tunity of knowing exactly what you are doing.
It would really be—and I am sure the noble and gallant Lord will agree with me—too absurd if we were asked to legislate about matters we did not understand merely because the Leader of the Opposition had been given a manuscript copy. Therefore, although I am very grateful to the noble and gallant Lord for his courtesy to me, I am afraid that cannot be looked upon as a solution so far as your Lordships' House is concerned. I know that one of my noble friends behind me thinks that everything is very satisfactory in the way business is wound up at the end of the Session. I hope he is convinced now that there is a certain ground for criticism. But I do not want to find fault with the Government. They have done the best they can in your Lordships' House. The fault does not lie here; it lies of course in another place. I have only to say as regards the Amendments which the noble and gallant Lord has detailed to us, that they are for the most part drafting Amendments. There is an Amendment, which he dwelt upon, by which the powers granted are limited to powers after the passing of this Act which are limiting words, but there are already limiting words in the clause limiting it to cases where reservoirs are constructed after the passing of the Bill. The extension of the limitation to the powers as well as to the construction does not amount to very much. At any rate, as far as noble Lords on this side of the House are concerned, I am sure we shall make no difficulties.
LORD JESSEL: My Lords, as my noble friend the Leader of the Opposition has referred to me, and said that I approved of the methods of the Government in this House, may I explain that what I said, and what I reiterate, is that we had the opportunity in this House of dealing with very important Bills in the earlier part of the Session. Those Bills were fully discussed, and I expressed the hope that in future, if our Party came into power again, we should again have that opportunity, which in the past we have not had. But, as regards this particular muddle, that is due to the usual hurry and rush at the end of the Session, and it is a great pity, and we must all deplore it. I am not in the least in love with this Government, as they

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know, but where they have earned a good mark has been in giving us an opportunity of going thoroughly into Bills at the commencement of the Session.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

COMMONS AMENDMENTS.
Clause 1, page 1, line 8, after ("engineer") insert ("within the meaning of this Act")
Clause 2, page 4, line 25, after ("engineer") insert ("within the meaning of this Act")
Clause 2, page 4, line 32, after ("engineer") insert ("within the meaning of this Act")
Clause 2, page 4, line 34, leave out ("permanent service") and insert ("employment")
Clause 2, page 4, line 35, leave out from ("engineer") to end of line 42, and insert ("within the meaning of this Act, who is responsible to the undertakers for the maintenance of the reservoir, the undertakers may appoint that engineer to make any such inspection and report")
Page 5, line 1, leave out ("independent")
Page 5, line 15, leave out ("the independent") and insert ("an")
Page 5, line 27, after ("engineer") insert ("within the meaning of this Act")
Page 5, line 33, leave out from ("section") to ("and") in line 37, and insert ("refer their complaint to such independent qualified civil engineer within the meaning of this Act as may be appointed by agreement between them and the engineer who made the report or, in default of their agreement, to such person as the Secretary of State may appoint")
Page 5, line 42, after ("which") insert ("a referee may be appointed by agreement under the last foregoing subsection as to the time within which")
Page 5, line 44, after ("made") insert ("to him")
LORD THOMSON: My Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in these Amendments. They are mostly drafting.
Moved, That the House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Thomson.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

COMMONS AMENDMENT.
Clause 4, page 7, line 3, leave out ("twenty") and insert ("ten")
LORD THOMSON: My Lords, this deals with a point that I omitted to mention.
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It reduces the penalty from £20 to £10 for contravention of, or failure to comply with, the provisions of this clause. But in view of the fact that the people who might contravene this clause are people with some character to lose, I do not know that your Lordships would wish to express any objection to it. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.
Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Lord Thomson.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

COMMONS AMENDMENTS.
Clause 5, page 7, line 19, after ("engineer") insert ("within the meaning of this Act")
Clause 7, page 8, line 12, after ("powers") insert ("granted after the passing of this Act")
Clause 8, page 8, line 29, leave out subsection (3).
Clause 10, page 9, line 32, after ("reservoir") insert ("The expression qualified civil engineer' within the meaning of this Act means a civil engineer who is a member of the panel of civil engineers constituted for the purposes of this Act, or if different panels are constituted for different purposes of this Act, or for different classes of reservoirs, a member of the appropriate panel")
LORD THOMSON: My Lords, I beg to move that we agree with the Commons in these Amendments.
Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Thomson.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

PUBLIC WORKS FACILITIES BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments, agreed to.

HOUSING (No. 2) BILL.
Returned from the Commons with certain Amendments in lieu of Amendments made by the Lords not insisted upon, but an Amendment to the Bill proposed in lieu thereof, and an Amendment made by the Lords in lieu of one of their former Amendments disagreed to, for which disagreement they assigned a Reason.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR): My Lords.

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I beg to move that the Commons Amendment and Reason be now considered. We have had some little trouble over these matters, but the foundation consideration in this House, I am sure, has always been to do what could be done so that a Bill of tins kind should become operative. The differences have really been on questions of procedure; there is no substantial difference, and I think that the common desire of every one here and also in another place is to assist in helping forward what everyone knows to be a matter of great importance—a Bill dealing with the slum clearance question. At the present stage of the Bill, so far as I am aware, we have only one outstanding difference. The disrepair point has been put aside; it has been dropped; and the only outstanding question is on the compensation clause. We have never been able to agree with your Lordships' proposal in the proviso. I am not going into the matter again, as we have discussed it so often; but I hope that now at this stage we may be able to come to terms, leaving the Bill without that proviso Amendment so that the matter may go forward and these great questions of slum clearance may be pushed on as quickly as possible.
Moved, That the Commons Amendment and Reason be now considered.— (Lord Parmoor.)
THE EARL OF ONSLOW: My Lords, I take it that the real issue is this, that the Government in another place have disagreed with the Amendment to the Commons Amendment which your Lordships put into the Bill yesterday, and they have proposed to omit the whole of the disrepair clause from the Bill. This produces a very peculiar position. We have here a Bill which has occupied a very considerable amount of Parliamentary time both in your Lordships' House and in another place. It is a Bill which has passed through the House of Commons and through your Lordships' House without a Division on Second Reading. There is no difference of opinion in the principle. It is a Bill which, although it contains certain things with which we do not agree, has many things which I think we should he glad to see on the Statute Book and in operation to assist in the great problem of housing.
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Your Lordships are aware that this is a matter in which the Party that I belong to has been for many years, I think it is nearly a century, a pioneer and has taken the very deepest interest. All the Conservative Prime Ministers for the last century nearly, and the whole Party, have had this matter of housing very deeply at heart and have accomplished a very great deal in the matter. And it is a very curious thing that we should be told by the Socialist Party that they would be willing to lose the Bill, the Housing Bill, the slum clearance Bill, rather than agree to what seems to me to be a matter simply of elementary justice, and not to very many people but only to a few. Only a few people would be affected.
Then I was rather surprised to hear the noble and learned Lord say that our differences were merely on questions of procedure, because yesterday he said that this matter of compensation was of the very greatest importance, and I think your Lordships agreed with him. I do. I think it is a matter of principle of very great importance whether you are going to treat a man justly or unjustly. It does not matter whether there are a large number of people to be treated justly or unjustly or only a few. As I have said, the Party to which I belong has been very deeply interested in the matter of being sure that this Bill or parts of it at any rate will accomplish a useful purpose. We would not wish on this particular point to wreck the Bill and, therefore, I should venture to advise your Lordships to agree with the proposals which have come to us from another place. I think the omission of the "disrepair" definition altogether is perhaps the best solution that could be made. I think it is better than the Amendment proposed by the Government or the Amendment which I ventured to put before your Lordships. In those circumstances, I should suggest we should accept the proposals which have reached us from the House of Commons.
VISCOUNT BERTIE OF THAME: My Lords, I am sorry to hear the advice given by the noble Earl, because I believe it is bluff on the part of the Government saying it would wreck the Bill. In every possible way we have tried to meet the Government, and it seems we have tried

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to placate the implacable. It is evident they mean to get as much as they can for nothing. It is merely a part of the attempt to socialise everything.
LORD PARMOOR: My Lords, I am sorry to hear what the noble Viscount has just said, for I had hoped no dispute would have arisen at this stage. I gladly welcome the non-political outlook which the noble Earl (the Earl of Onslow) has indicated. His Party and in fact all Parties are deeply interested in the end that we are seeking to attain. I need not say more. I hope everything controversial has now come to an end.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

LORDS AMENDMENT.
Page 11, line 23, at end insert:
("Provided that in any case whore it is proved that a building which is injurious or dangerous to health by reason only of the narrowness or bad arrangement of the streets on any land in a clearance area was acquired by the owner before the thirty-first day of July, nineteen hundred and nineteen, the arbitrator shall make to the owner an allowance for the value of the building having regard to the provisions of Part II of the Third Schedule to this Act.")
The Commons disagree to the above Amendment for the following Reason:
Because the Amendment as proposed to be amended would increase the burden of local rates and the Commons do not offer any further Reason trusting that the above may be deemed sufficient.
LORD PARMOOR: My Lords, I beg to move that we do not insist on the Amendment to which the Commons have disagreed.
Moved, That this House doth not insist on the said Amendment.—(Lord Parmoor.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

LORDS AMENDMENTS.
Page 49, line 43, after ("includes") insert ("such")
Page 49, line 43, after ("deficiency") insert ("arising from default on the part of the landlord")
Page 50, line 1, leave out from ("walls") to ("and") in line 4, and insert ("as is injurious or dangerous to the health of the occupants")
The Commons do not insist on their Amendment in lieu of the Lords Amend
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ments in page 49, line 43, and the Amendment in page 59, line 1, but propose the following Amendment to the Bill in lieu thereof:
Page 49, line 43, leave out from the beginning to ("and") in page 50, line 4.
LORD PARMOOR: My Lords, I beg to move that we agree with the Commons.
Moved, That this House does agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Lord Parmoor.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

HOUSING (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Returned from the Commons with an Amendment proposed in lieu of a Lords Amendment not insisted on, but another Amendment proposed in lieu thereof.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD MARLEY): My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons Amendment be now considered.
Moved, That the Commons Amendment be now considered.—(Lord Marley.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

HOUSING (SCOTLAND) BILL.

  COMMONS AMENDMENT.
  Clause 48, page 37, line 14, leave out from the beginning ("the expression 'disrepair' includes") to "and" in line 20.
  LORD MARLEY: My Lords, the terms of the Amendment of the Commons are to omit the definition of "disrepair," as in the English Bill. One point is to bring the two Bills into line in this matter, and another point is that no definition at all is perhaps better than a definition on which there is disagreement. I beg to move that we agree with the Commons Amendment.
  Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Lord Marley.)
  THE MARQUESS OF LINLITHGOW: My Lords, do I understand the noble Lord to say that the effect of this is to bring the English and the Scottish Bills into line?
  LORD MARLEY: That is so.
  On Question, Motion agreed to.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, I should like to ask the noble and learned Lord how this House stands

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with regard to the Land Drainage Bill. That Bill has gone back to another place and will be received here in the course of to-day?
LORD PARMOOR: Certainly.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: Does the noble and learned Lord anticipate that there will be any matter upon which your Lordships' consent will be necessary, because in that case I must make arrangements accordingly?
LORD PARMOOR: As far as I know, there will be no difficulty, but the noble Earl, Lord De La Warr, who is cognisant of the details of the Bill, is not here for a moment. I do not, however, anticipate any difficulty. All the business I know of that we have to do is to deal with the Land Drainage Bill, and I do not understand that there will be any difficulty in dealing with it. Then there will be the Royal Commission to give the Royal Assent to the Bills which we have passed, and after that to fix a date for the re-assembly of Parliament, which I hope will be as early as possible. I cannot say more than that.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, the Land Drainage Bill may be merely a formal matter in another place; I do not know and I cannot of course ask the noble and learned Lord to tell us what is going to happen in another place; but I can ask him to tell us what line the Government are going to take there. Are they going to suggest further alterations in the Land Drainage Bill?
LORD PARMOOR: My Lords, I am obliged to say that this Bill has been taken very carefully by Lord De La Warr, who is not here for the moment. I have always understood that there will be no further difficulty, but I cannot say more than that for the moment as he is not here.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, perhaps the noble and learned Lord could send a message to the noble Earl, Lord De La Warr, who, may I say respectfully, should be in his place.
LORD PARMOOR: He has some other public duty. I have just had an intimation with regard to the progress of business, and in view of that I think it will be more convenient to your Lordships if we adjourn until a fixed time. I will move that we adjourn until two o'clock.
Moved, That the House do now adjourn until two o'clock.—(Lord Parmoor.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
[House adjourned at a quarter before twelve o'clock and resumed at two o'clock.]

LAND DRAINAGE BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments made by the Lords to certain of the Amendments made by the Commons agreed to, certain of the Commons Amendments to which the Lords had disagreed not insisted upon and the Amendments made by the Lords in lieu thereof agreed to, and other Amendments to which the Lords had disagreed not insisted upon.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
LORD PARMOOR: My Lords, I am told that the Appropriation Bill should be up here by about half-past three o'clock, but nothing can be said definitely. It is, however, only necessary to keep a quorum.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL.
Brought from the Commons endorsed with a Certificate from the Speaker that the Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act, 1911, and read 1ª.
Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended), Bill read 2ª: Committee negatived; Bill read 3ª, and passed.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The following Bills, and Measures passed according to the provisions of Section 4 of the Church of England (Powers) Act, received the Royal Assent.

Appropriation,

Finance,

Housing,

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Housing (Scotland),

Air Transport (Subsidy Agreements),

Overseas Trade,

Poor Prisoners' Defence,

Isle of Man (Customs),

Illegitimate Children (Scotland),

Workmen's Compensation (Silicosis and Asbestosis),

Coal Mines,

Hairdressers' and Barbers' Shops (Sunday Closing),

Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland),

Sea Fisheries Regulation (Expenses),

British Museum,

Public Works Loans,

Navy and Marines (Wills),

Education (Scotland),

Adoption of Children (Scotland),

London Naval Treaty,

Unemployment Insurance (No. 3),

Road Traffic,

Land Drainage,

Invergordon Water Supply,

Aberdeen Corporation Order Confirmation,

Public Works Facilities,

Reservoir (Safety Provisions),

East Lothian Western District Water Order Confirmation,

Churches and Universities (Scotland) Widows' and Orphans' Fund Order Confirmation,

Provisional Order (Marriages) Confirmation,

Salford Provisional Order Confirmation,

St. Helen's Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation,

Wolverhampton Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation,

Pier and Harbour Order Confirmation (No. 1),

Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation (No. 2),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Goole and Oldham),

Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (South Molton Rural),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Doncaster St. Ives (Cornwall) and Scarborough),

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Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Brighton),

Land Drainage (Ouse) Provisional Order Confirmation,

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Accrington, Bognor Regis and Newton Abbot),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Great Torrington Mine-head and Taf Fechan Water Supply Board),

Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Folkestone Water),

Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Uxbridge Joint Hospital District),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Cardiff, Stoke-on-Trent and Worthing),

Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (East Dean and United Districts Joint Hospital District),

Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Essex),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Macclesfield and Willesden),

Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Morecambe and Heysham),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders Confirmation (Torquay and Weymouth and Melcombe Regis),

Bradford Corporation (Trolley Vehicles) Order Confirmation,

Shoreham Harbour,

London Building,

London County Council (General Powers),

Southampton County Council (Burlesdon Bridge),

London and North Eastern Railway,

Manchester Corporation (Improvements),

South Yorkshire and Derbyshire Gas,

Ascot District Gas and Electricity,

Brixham Gas and Electricity,

Middlesex County Council,

London, Midland and Scottish Railway (No. 2),

Southern Railway,

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Stockport Corporation,

Walsall Corporation,

Falmouth Corporation Water,

Stockton-on-Tees Corporation (General Powers),

Manchester Extension,

Cardiff Corporation,

Kingston-upon-Hull Corporation,

Rotherham Corporation,

Glasgow Corporation,

Manchester Corporation (General Powers),

Bristol Cattle Market,

Bristol Corporation (No. 2),

Bournemouth Corporation,

Dartford Tunnel,

Southend-on-Sea Corporation,

Bootle Corporation,

Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire Electric Power,

Redcross Street Burial Ground (Bristol),

Hartlepool Gas and Water,

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation (Quay Extension, etc.),

River Lee (Flood Relief, etc.),

West Ham Corporation,

Leicester Corporation,

Boston Corporation,

London United Tramways,

Southport Corporation,

Argyll Trust Estate,

Pluralities Measure, 1930,

Benefices (Transfer of Rights of Patronage) Measure, 1930.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.
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 Members of the House of Commons.
"My relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly.
"It has given Me great pleasure to welcome in My capital Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Takamatsu, and to learn from His Imperial Highness of the gratification which the Emperor of Japan derived from the visit of My son, the Duke of Gloucester, to Japan last year to convey to His Imperial Majesty the insignia of the Order of the Garter.
"At the Conference held at The Hague last January Agreements were concluded for the definite settlement of the reparation liabilities of Germany, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria. These Agreements, together with that subsequently concluded at Paris, solved a number of difficult and delicate problems which have impeded the political as well as the financial progress of Europe; and their conclusion enabled the evacuation of the Rhineland by the Armies of Occupation to be completed on the 30th June last. The Hague Conference thus marks a decisive stage in the financial reconstruction and political tranquillisation of Europe and its success has given Me profound satisfaction.
"In January it afforded Me great pleasure to open at Westminster an international conference for the limitation and reduction of naval armaments. After three months of deliberation a Treaty embodying many important points of agreement in regard to the principles of naval limitation and achieving effective economies in the sphere of naval armaments was signed by representatives of the United States of America, France, Italy and Japan and of My Governments in the United Kingdom, the Dominions and India. In addition the Treaty embodies an agreement between My Governments and those of the United States of America and Japan fixing for a period a total tonnage limit for certain categories of warships. In this agreement the representatives of France and Italy were unable at the time of the signature of the Treaty to participate. The Conference was accordingly adjourned so as to give further time for negotiations, and these will, I trust, result in a full agreement at no very distant date.
"The Optional Clause of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International

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Justice was signed at Geneva in September last in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, My self-governing Dominions and India, and the several instruments of ratification are now completed or nearing completion.
"In October last the Prime Minister visited Washington for the purpose of an informal discussion with the President of the United States upon various questions bearing on the peace of the world and an international agreement regarding reduction and limitation of naval armaments. Subsequently the Prime Minister visited Ottawa. The very cordial manlier in which he was received caused Me the liveliest satisfaction.
"A mission under the Chairmanship of Viscount D'Abernon was appointed in 1929 to consider Anglo-Argentine and Anglo-Brazilian relations, industrial, commercial and financial, with a view to their development to the mutual advantage of the countries respectively concerned.
"The failure of the recent negotiations for an Anglo-Egyptian settlement occasioned Me sincere disappointment, but I hope that a successful conclusion may soon be reached.
"Diplomatic relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were resumed in December last, and placed on a normal basis by the appointment of Ambassadors.
"I am happy to say that the restoration of more settled conditions in Afghanistan has enabled Me to accredit a Minister to His Majesty King Nadir Shah, and to receive a representative of His Majesty in My capital.
"A new Treaty of Alliance between Myself and His Majesty the King of Iraq to regulate the future relations between Our two countries, has been signed by Our respective representatives. The text of this Treaty has been laid before you.
"I am glad that arrangements have been made for a meeting of the Imperial Conference in London at the end of September. I welcome the opportunities afforded by such meetings between the representatives of My several Governments for the pro-
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motion of mutual understanding and of co-operation in all matters of common concern. The Expert Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation which met in London last year presented a Report which will come before the Imperial Conference for consideration.
"In accordance with an Address to Me from the Senate and Commons of Canada, the British North America Act, 1930, has been passed for the purpose of confirming and validating certain agreements entered into between My Government in Canada and the Governments of the Provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
"A Conference attended by Governors and other senior officials from the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories assembled in June to discuss matters of common interest to the various territories of the Colonial Empire.
"During the Session the Commission appointed by Me in pursuance of the provisions of the Government of India Act have completed their arduous duty and have submitted to Me their Report, which has been presented to both your Houses. My Government will shortly be approaching the task of framing and submitting for your consideration proposals for the future government of India. For guidance in this matter, it is their intention to summon into conference in London representatives of the wide variety of interests in India. I earnestly pray that a, spirit of mutual trust and friendship may unite all races and creeds in India, and the representatives of both countries, in their discharge of the responsibilities which the Conference will impose upon them; and I am confident that the single purpose of promoting the welfare of My Indian people will be the inspiration of every member of the Conference.
"Members of the House of Commons,
"I thank you for the provision you have made for the public service.
"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
"The high level to which unemployment has risen during the past year

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and the world-wide depression in trade is causing Me very grave anxiety. Measures have been passed with the object of promoting works of economic development in this country and in My Overseas Dependencies. It is encouraging to find that schemes have been designed to provide useful employment in works of public utility of a total value of over £100,000,000. This has been made possible by a substantial contribution granted by My Government.
"I have given My assent to a further Measure to facilitate more speedy execution of works of this character by local authorities and other bodies.
"Reports have been received on the enquiries undertaken into the condition of the iron and steel and cotton industries in order to discover means of improving their position in the markets of the world, and discussion of the recommendations made is actively proceeding between all the interests concerned.
"A Bill has been passed which amends the Unemployment Insurance Scheme in several important respects, and other legislative measures have been necessary to provide for the heavy expenditure on unemployment benefit occasioned by the great volume of unemployment.
"I have given My assent to a Measure for ameliorating the conditions of miners by reducing their hours of labour and for effecting an improvement in the organisation of the mining industry.
"A Measure, based generally on the recommendations of My Commission on Land Drainage, has been passed to enable essential comprehensive drainage works to be undertaken for the prevention of flooding and the consequent benefit of agriculture, and the increase of employment in rural areas.
"Acts have also been passed to make further provision with respect to the drainage of agricultural land in Scotland and to provide additional monies for improving medical service in the Highlands and Islands.
"Steps are being taken to appoint an Agricultural Research Council, and
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with this purpose in view a Committee of the Privy Council has been appointed.
"I have given My assent to Measures to facilitate the clearance and prevention of slums and the provision of better housing accommodation, both in urban and rural areas in Great Britain.
"It is My earnest hope that these Measures will improve the unsatisfactory conditions under which so many of My people dwell.
"I have given My assent to a Bill which modifies the conditions applicable to certain pensions under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and brings some new classes of persons within the benefits of the Act; to a Measure designed to improve and extend the facilities for the treatment of mental illness, and also to a Bill amending and consolidating the law relating to the regulation and control of motor vehicles.
"In bidding you farewell, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon the work which you have completed."
Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
After which the LORD CHANCELLOR said:
MY LORDS, AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—By virtue of Him 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 Tuesday, the twenty-eighth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday, the twenty-eighth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty.
End of the First Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the twenty-first year of the Reign of His Majesty King George V.