Paxtiament opened with. the eust tomary State ceremonial to-day in fine weather. Large crowds heer cel the processions of Thetr Majesties and the Prince of Wales.
The House of Lords was packed with peers and peeresses and the tolleries were occupied by a dis-Unguivhed gathering. A consplewous feature of the brilliant wxsemlage was the enclosure close to the Throne reserved for the Ambassador who were clustered together in their splendid uniforms, ~The Judges in their fall-bottomed wigs were grouped beside the Woolssek.
"The King's Speech at the opening of Parliament otates that, the campaign of hostility towards British tights and interests in Egypt and the Sudan, which was inspired rather Vian' discouraged by. Zaghlal Pasha's Government, culminated in the murder of Sir Lee Stack, the Sirdar, The Egyptians have' accepted the demands to. secure re-epeer for British interests, The Imperial and Dominions Govexnmenta are examining the Geneva Disarmament Protocol.
The Anglo-Russian Treaties have been rejected but the desire is ex. pressed that normal intercourse will Not be interrupted, "I trust, this will be attained by strict fulfilment the friendly international intercourse previously accepted by the Soviet, The Trade Agreement 1921 at present docs every possible to foster mutual tradi The Government's guiding. prinple will be one of very close cooperation with the Dominions and India Governments in all matters agriculture. He asked ow the Government was going to submit the ease of the Geneva Protocol to the Dominions. Was there going to be a special Dominions Conference? If so, would the Interniational Conference on Armaments be postpone The former Prime Minister urged that no time ought to be lost in to.an agreement with Egypt in regard to future Anglo-Egyptian relations. Any arrangement, he said, must be assented to by the Mr. MacDonald said that he was surprised and pleased to read the and friendly reference to Rus-asia in the King's Speech (ironical Opposition laughter).
conclusion, Bir. MacDonald asked if Mr, Baldwin was going to ran Imperial preference without a tax on food. Were we going to have tinned salmon again?
'The Premier's Reply'
The Prime Minister, replying to ithe criticisms of Mr. MacDonald and Mr, Lloyd George, said that the Government would have been fooliah to rush into acceptance or reject tion of the Geneva Protocol without the fullest. investigation im conjunetion with the Dominions.
After his reference to Singapore, Mr. Baldwin said that es regurd:
otcetion he adhered to his pre. vious ¢tatement that while he would employ the Safeguarding of Indus Act to safeguard efficient industries, in which there was great" unemployment due to unfair competi tion, he would not introduce proof mubwak concern, The policy of encouraging Empire scttdemen, und inter-Empire trade will be steadfastly adhered to. Propesials wil be submitted for granting. preferences to Empire imports.
'45 0 means to introduce it.
The debate proceeded on general Vines and was adjourned morrow.
Later.
Unemployment and Housing In connexion with the investiga tions for alleviation of unemploy-mont, a Bill is under consideration for safeguarding employment efficient industries where necessary.
'The Government will tackle the housing problem by coping with the ising cost of houses and the shortage of skilled Inbour and supply' and by encouraging new methods of construction calculated to promote rapid production of houses. A vigorous effort will be made to aboli ish insanitary and defective houses.
Inquiries are made with a view to combining the provisions of the improved old ago pensions amd the pensions of widowed mothers with the existing insurance systems.
Measures will be submitted "for adoption of the Tate Government proposals for encouragement of the sugar beet industry and the morking of imported foodstuffs.
'A rtumber of other domestic measures are also indicated.
The Ex-Premier's Sarcasm Later. he mover of the Address to the Throne was Mr. R. G. Elis (Conservative) and the seconder Lord Balniel (Conservative). Both emphasized the importance of improved inter-Imperial trade.
Mr. Ramsay MacDonald staid that the first product of the Government, was a King's Speech of extraordinary length, but very little substance. The Government had no pol-fey with regard to food prices or The House of Lords has agreed to the Address in reply to the Kin Speech—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.