INEBRIATES ACTS, 1879 TO 1899 (REGULATIONS FOR STATE INEBRIATE REFORMATORIES).

Copy presented, of New Regulations made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department prescribing the diet for ill-conducted or idle inmates of State Inebriate Reformatories, and revoking Regulations 64 (b) and 66 (b), and so much of Appendix A as relates to the diet of ill-conducted or idle inmates, of the Regulation dated 21st June, 1901 [by Act); to lie upon the Table.

PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS (CONDITIONAL LICENCE).

Copy presented, of Licence granted. to Ellis Smith, under the Provisions of the Penal Servitude Acts, 1853 to 1891, to which are annexed conditions other than those contained in Schedule A of the Penal Servitude Act, 1864 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.

PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS (CONDI.
TIONAL LICENCE).

Copy presented, of Licence granted to Timothy W. Nolan, a convict, to which are annexed conditions other than those contained in Schedule A of the Penal Servitude Act, 1864 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION (IRELAND).

Return presented, relative thereto, [Ordered 13th August, 1903; Mr.

Copy presented, of Additional Rule made by the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland as to Experimental and Practical Science [by Act]; to lie

ENGLAND).

Copy presented, of Return of all Loans raised in England, chargeable on the Revenues of India, outstanding at the commencement of the half-year ending on the 30th September, 1903 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 8.]

UNIVERSITIES OF OXFORD 'AND CAMBRIDGE ACT, 1877 (CAMBRIDGE).

Copy presented, of Statutes made by the Governing Body of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, on 16th March, 1903, in substitution for the existing Statutes of the College [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 9.]

UNIVERSITIES

UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

Copy presented, of Annual Statistical Report by the University Court of the University of Glasgow for 1902-3 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 17.]

LICENSING (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1903. Copy presented, of Order made by the Secretary for Scotland under Section 109 of the Act [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.

PRISONS (SCOTLAND).

Copy presented, of Rule made by the Secretary for Scotland appointing the Police Cells at Kirkcaldy to be a legal Prison for the detention of untried prisoners for a period not exceeding fourteen days before or during trial, and of convicted prisoners for a period not exceeding seven days from the date of conviction [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 18.]

TRADE REPORTS (ANNUAL SERIES). Copies presented, of Diplomatic and Consular Reports, Annual Series, Nos. 3116 and 3117 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

UNITED STATES (No. 2, 1904). Copy presented, of Map to accompany Correspondence respecting the Alaska Boundary (United States, No. 1, 1904) [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

PAPERS LAID UPON THE TABLE BY

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE.

1. Lunacy. Copy of Report to the Lord Chancellor of the number of visits made, the number of patients seen, and the number of miles travelled by the Visitors of Lunatics between 1st April, 1903, and 30th September, 1903 [by Act]. 2. Lunacy. Copy of Return of all sums received by the Visitors of Lunatics for travelling expenses, or upon any other account, from 1st January to 31st December, 1903 [by Act].

3. Supreme Court (Rules).-Copy of Rules of the Supreme Court, dated 15th January 1904 [by Act].

and Harbour Board for the year ending 1st July, 1903 [by Act].

6. Public Records (Disposal of Documents).-Copy of Additional Rule under the Public Record Office Acts, 1877 and 1898, for the disposal of certain Documents [by Act].

7. Public Records (Colonial Office).Copy of Schedule containing a List and Particulars of Classes of Documents existing or accruing in the Office of His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, which are not considered of sufficient public value to justify their preservation in the Public Record Office [by Act].

KING'S SPEECH.

Mr. SPEAKER reported His Majesty's Speech, and read it to the House. (See page 1).

KING'S SPEECH (MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS).

*MR. HARDY (Kent, Ashford): In rising to undertake the responsibility that falls on me to-day, I will not ask for that indulgence which has so often been asked by Members standing in a similar position, because during the twelve years I have sat in this House I have never received anything but courtesy and kindness from all sides. But, as in this year of climatic disturbance we have often found moments of calm and quiet, so after the tempestuous controversies of the recess it may be hoped that in this House my hon. friend and myself may enjoy a few moments of quiet sympathy. Speech from the Throne itself leads us to a somewhat similar feeling, because in its opening paragraph it breathes of peace and goodwill. Used as we have been, alas, on many occasions in recent years, in the Gracious Speech from the Throne to references to wars and to the consequences of war, we must now feel a great sense of satisfaction when we find paragraph after paragraph pointing out other ways of settling international difficulties. It suggests a

The

5. Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.Copy of Accounts of the Mersey Docks

ful arbitration will take the place of the dread arbitrament of war. In this I think a right note has been struck in the

first paragraph, which alludes to our relations with our neighbour the great country of France. That personal note is raised by the allusion to the King's recent visit to that country, and I must say that when we look at this and other paragraphs one cannot doubt that we owe much in this regard to the tact, bonhomie, and diplomatic powers of His Majesty himself. There is reference also to another exchange of international courtesies. We have been accustomed to visits between the heads of great States, but for the first time there has been an interchange of visits between the legislatures of the two countries, thereby helping to cement a friendship which I trust may continue. We heartily welcomed those who came to us as guests from France, and we in our turn were welcomed with equal warmth. We may trust that the people of the two great countries so contiguous to each other may long remain on terms of amity and of friendship. We have to

remember that if we seek these new ways of deciding international disputes, there must always be those who get their way and those who are unsuccessful. In the next paragraph we find an allusion to that tribunal which has been dealing with questions of great difficulty and delicacy which had arisen between Canada and the United States. While we may congratulate ourselves that at last these ancient controversies have been put an end to, we have to remember that the adverse decision tried peculiarly our kinsmen across the sea, and we cannot withhold our admiration of the Canadian people for the calmness and good sense with which they received a decision which undoubtedly unpalatable to them.

was

I pass on to the next paragraph dealing with affairs in the Far East. We all know that the fear of war is brooding over a vast area of country. We ourselves have in late years had bitter experience of the sacrifices of life and treasure involved in war. But that experience was only in connection with a land war, and we do not know what would be the result of a war by sea as well as by land, fought between the ancient Empire of Russia and the newer Empire of Japan. I think we may feel

satisfied, however, that the Government with its own experience of what war means-will do their utmost to maintain peace. Our interests in those distant countries are very great, and deplorable would be the effect of war upon them-commercially, politically, and in every other way. Whatever the issue of the war might be, we cannot but feel that any alteration in the balance of power in that part might lead to results which might be far more deplorable than even any attack on our trade would be. At all events, as long as there is peace there is hope, and trusting in the good sense of the Emperor of Russia and our allies, the Japanese, we may still hope for a peaceful outcome of the negotiations.

I now pass from foreign matters to those which affect our colonies. I

think it must be a matter of great satis

to

faction to us that the Commonwealth of Australia and the Colony of New Zealand, following up what occurred Conference in 1902, at the Colonial have now expressed their willingness to take up their responsibilities, some extent, in connection with Imperial defence, and I think we ought to note that the acceptance of responsibility on their part is at the same time an acknowledgment of the necessity of unity of policy in this connection rather than a mere selfish interest. They are willing to contribute towards Imperial defence in an Imperial manner. I think, too, we may feel very glad that the Legislature of New Zealand, following the example of Canada and of South Africa, has given sanction to a tariff which gives preference to the produce of the Mother Country

in the markets of New Zealand, and I hope that this example may be followed in other parts of the Empire. With regard to the mission to Thibet, the Papers which are to be laid shortly before the House will, of course, explain its objects, and here again it must be a matter for satisfaction that it is a political mission, undertaken by the concurrence of the Suzerain Power, to enforce treaty obligations, and that it is in no sense aggressive or caused by any desire to push forward the limits of the Empire. It is, in fact, a peaceful mission for the promotion of our interests, and we hope that like many which have