New Georgians

Resumption of business by the Lords and Commons last week, after the long British Christmas-New Year recess, opened politically the new Georgian era of George VI. It was not an occasion which required His Majesty to open Parliament in state with a Speech from the Throne, the last such required speech having been read loud and clear by Edward VIII (TIME, Nov. 9). Today George VI is making rapid further progress with doctors and vocalists to overcome his defective speech (TIME, Dec. 21), and the Duke of Kent was recently pressed into service to read an overseas royal radio broadcast to New Zealand. Omens were that the whole House of Commons will loyally cooperate to avoid unpleasant subjects until after the Coronation next May 12, and the House was slated last week for such work as raising Cabinet salaries a trifle, including that of the Prime Minister. This matter intensely English Punch presented in a drawing of the Good Fairy Britannia magically raising the emolument of the independently wealthy Stanley Baldwin (see cut). Intensely Canadian Lord Beaverbrook's London Evening Standard (which was pro-Edward and anti-Baldwin throughout the crisis) cartooned the Prime Minister with savage drollery as rolling about like a babe in his "Second Childhood" (see cut).

*Punch's caption: "A WELL-EARNED REWARD" "The Good Fairy, Britannia (to the Principal Boy)-- "AND NOW TO PLEASE THE STALLS, THE PIT AND GALLERY, "ALLOW ME TO PRESENT A RISE OF SALARY."

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