NEWS OF THE WEEK.
PARLIAMENT was openedin State by the King on Monday afternoon. Accompanied by the Q ueen, the King, who now made his first appearance at a public function since the funeral of King Edward, drove in the old State coach, drawn by eight cream horses, by the Mall, the Horse Guards, and Whitehall to Victoria Tower. After paying a fitting tribute to the great services of the late King, the Speech referred to the successful mission of the Duke of Connaught to South Africa. The commercial negotiations with Japan, our relations with Persia, the forthcoming Imperial Conference, and the King's visit to India having been touched on, the Constitutional issue was referred to in the following paragraph : "Proposals will be submitted to you with- out delay for settling the relations between the two Houses of Parliament, with the object of securing the more effective working of the Constitution." Of other legislative proposals, the Speech mentioned measures dealing with Old Age Pensions reform and insurance against invalidity and unemployment. No mention was made of payment of mem- bers, Home Rule, or Welsh Disestablishment, but a general promise was given that "Bills dealing with other measures of importance will be introduced and proceeded with as time and opportunity allow."
