OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 6

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

REMINDER OF EARLY STRUGGLES,

TRADITIONAL CEREMONY TO-DAY

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, June 25.

Two reminders of the time when British democracy overcame tyranny are retained in the traditional ceremonial which will mark the opening of the Parliamentary session to-mor-row. One is the locking of the door of the House of Representatives against the King’s messenger, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and the other is the assertion of the right of the House of Representatives to dispatch its own business before it deals with business put before it by the Crown. To-morrow will begin like any other Parliamentary day with the ringing of the bells, a different tone for each House. Legislative Councillors will go to their gilded and ornate Chamber, and members of the House to their more sombre meeting place for prayers. Meanwhile the Governor-General (Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg), whose departure from Government House is marked by a salute of guns, will arrive outside the buildings with Lady Freyberg and his aides. He will inspect a guard of honour, and then/will begin to ascend the long steps of Parliament Buildings. Lady Freyberg at the same time will be met at the head of the steps by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr C. M, Bothamley, who will escort her to the Legislative Cquncil Chamber. There the Speaker, the Hon. M. Fagan, will present her with a bouquet. His Excellency will be met at the head of the steps by Black Rod, Captain D. C. Bryan, and will pass through the lobby to the Legislative Council Chamber, where he will take the seat usually occupied by the Speaker of the Council. The Locked Door Then His Excellency will call on Black Rod to summon members of the House. When Black Rod arrives at the door of the Chamber of the House of Representatives he will find it locked against him. This is the recurring protest of the Commons against the action of Charles I in entering the House with an armed guard to seek Pym. Hollas, Hampden, Hesijrige and Strode-—«n occasion on which the Speaker, Lenthall, made history by declaring: “I have neither eyes to see nor lips to speak unless this House directs me.*’ However, after Black Rod has knocked three times the dopr will be opened to him by the gergeant at Arms, Group Captain A. J. Manson, and he will deliver his summons, Members of the House of Representatives will then go tp the Legislative Council. The Speaker (the Hon. F. W* Schramm), preceded by the Sergeant at Arms with the mace on his shoulder. will lead them. After they have arrived in the Legislative Council Chamber, his Excellency will read the speech his advisers (the Government) have prepared for him, Part of the speech is addressed to both Houses of the Legislature, and part only to the House of Representatives, which has control of money matters. After finishing his speech his Excellency will hand the copy from which he has read to the Speaker of the Legislative Council, and then leave the Chamber, followed by his retinue. As he passes Mr Speaker he will hand him another eppy of the speech. Asserting Independence Members of the House of Representatives will then go back to their Chamber, and assert their independence by dealing with their own business first, To emphasise this right, at least one bill is read a first time before the Speech from the Throne is considered. That is the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, which is never heard of again. Among other business that may come forward to-morrow is a notice by Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Government, Christchurch South) of his intention to introduce the Christchurch Domain and City Coynci] Empowering Bill. After the House has thus demonstrated its independence, Mr Speaker will formally acquaint members with the fact that they have been to the Legislative Council and listened to a speech, “of which for greater accuracy I have obtained a copy.” The only duty of Black Rod is at the opening of the Parliamentary session, in payment for which and to meet his expenses he is paid £25. The office dates back to 135 Q, almost the beginning of parliamentary government. The officer takes his name from 1 the black rod which he carries, In New Zealand this was a plain staff like a billiard cub until Lord Bledisloe presented a replica of the black : rod used in Britain. This jg sur- : mounted by a gold crown. The mace ; which the Sergeant at Arms carries : and keeps on his shoulder during the 1 reading of the Governor-General's < speech is solid silver with a covering t Of gilt. It weighs 141 b. It is the sym- < bol of authority of the House, is dele- < gated to Mr Speaker, and lies on the table when Mr Speaker or his deputy . is in the chair. When the House is in committee, with the chairman presid- ■ ing, the mpce is placed under the table, ; There was no such symbol in the New . Zealand Parliament until 1866, when ! Sir Charles Clifford, the first Speaker, Pf es fhted one. This-was destroyed in the fire Which ruined the original Parliament Buildings in 1907. A wooden ! mace was used for a few years before 1 the mace now in use was given by Sir < Joseph Ward and his colleagues in the s Libera] Cabinet. i