POMP AND PAGEANTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 80, 25 June 1927, Page 17

POMP AND PAGEANTRY

Opening of New Zealand Parliament is Most Picturesque Ceremony in Wellington’s Yea

WOMEN’S PART IN FUNCTION CHIEFLY SMART FROCKING—MRS. COATES’S TEA PARTY LIMOUSINE REPLACES STATE CARRIAGE LADY STATHAM “AT HOME”

H RIM SON CARPET, gold braid, jangling spurs, fluttering pennons, fashionable clothes and the boom of cannon each plays Its part In this brief hour of pomp and circumstance. It is a brave »ight and never fails to draw a crowd of admiring onlookers, no matter how wet the day. . Women predominate in the crowd of onlookers, and it is the women who itand out so prominently during the opening ceremony. Legislators occupy the limelight for so many months of the year that some recognition of the womenfolk is due on the opening day of Parliament. Here In New Zealand there are no ladies of Royal rank to occupy the seats in the Lords’ gallery, no duchesses or countesses to flash their jewels and coronets on the throng of commoners, to dazzle the world with ermine wraps; here, no procession of the Royal coach with its postillions

*** creamy, prancing steeds, its outr'ders ani brilliantly-garbed escort, instead of the Royal presence we y a the King’s personal representa*Tes ' it* 3 Excellency the Governoreneral. sir Charles Fergusson, Ds ’ G ‘* KCB - K.C.M.G., C. 8., Th • aD< * Bac *y Alice Fergusson. ey * nv, iist the ceremony with a dig* y whic k has not beep excelled by y predecessors. Alice Fergusson has attended p Gr third opening of a New Zealand ament. She arrived in the DoBarf loll * C but doubtless she has don cipa,ed in the p a^eahtr y of Lon * more than one occasion.

Long before the opening ceremony the House is astir. Members of the House of Representatives are busily conducting their wives and daughters to seats in the gallery of the Upper House before taking their seats in tlieir own Chamber. It is another instance of the early bird and Its reward, for long before the opening ceremony every available seat is taken and many are forced to stand round the doors if they’ wish to see or hear anything. All is animation in the Legislative Council, which, in New Zealand, corresponds to the English House of Lords. There are no Lords, but there is a good sprinkling of Ivnigh'ts and one Baronet. Extra chairs have been brought in to cope with the extra demand, and all the floor space is taken. Everyone faces the Speaker's chair, which becomes the “Throne” from which the Speech is read. Seated on the floor of the Legisla-

tive Council are Mrs. Coates, wife of t_ie Prime Minister, Lady Statham wife of the Speaker of the Housß of Representatives, members of the Legislative Council and their wives, members of the Cabinet and their wives, members of the House of Representatives and prominent visitors. By this time Mrs. Coates is quite accustomed to the procedure at the opening of Parliament. Before her husband became Prime Minister, she attended the ceremony simply as the wife of a member of the Cabinet. This, also, is the third function of this kind which she has attended as wife of the Prime Minister. A graceful,

smartly-frocked figure, she becomes her position with quiet dignity. Lady Statham is another wellknown figure on opening day. She has a striking personality and always wears her frocks with a distinctive air.

N.ew frocks are the order of the day, and the setting is worthy of them. The crimson of the carpet, the wandering rays of a winter sun and the cathedral-like dim of the interior all combine to make an impressive setting for an impressive ceremony. In the half-light the frocks make splashes of brilliant colour, like tropical flowers in a dark forest. A Guard of Honour

Outside the front entranec to tho building a guard of honour from one of the Wellington regiments is drawn up in readiness for the arrival of their Excellencies. Flags flutter from the roof if the weather is fine—if not they flap dejectedly in the rain. Down the long flight of steps leading to the main entrance runs a 3trip of crimson carpet, a thin thread of colour across the dull grey stone. Thi3 is a Vice-Regal prerogative. House attendants stand at the door, and anywandering spectator is quickly warned off should he or she venture Into the wide expanse round the entrance just prior to the arrival of the GovernorGeneral.

From the roof and the gallery aboy a the main doors sightseers watch for the arrival of the Vice-Regal carriage. To-day, alas! it is a gleaming limousine. In other days the GovernorGeneral arrived in an open carriage, resplendent with footmen and liveried attendants. The boom of cannon is the signal that the Vice-Regal party has left Government House. The information is conveyed to those waiting indoors. There are instant signs of activity, particularly among the attendants.

With a swish and a purr the Governor-General’s car arrives. He is accompanied by his aide-de-camp, the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, MajorGeneral R. Young, C.M.G, D. 5.0., and other military officials and naval officers. The National Anthem crashes out, and his Excellency proceeds to inspect the Guard of Honour. This ceremony takes but a few minutes and the Vice-Regal party is escorted up the crimson carpet and through the lobby to the Legislative Council, where the “Speech from the Throne” Is to read and Parliament ifficially opened. Enter: The Governor-General Everyone rises as the GovernorGeneral and his lady enter the Chamber, and are escorted to the “Throne” by officials. A chair is provided near the “Throne” for her Excellency. • One of the most charming episodes in the pageant of opening Parliament is the presentation of a bouquet to her Excellency and to Mrs. Coates by tbe Speaker of the Upper House, (Sir Walter Carncross. When the ceremony is over those in the Upper House seat themselves until the arrival of the members of the House of Representatives in the Legislative Council. Without their presence the “Speech from the Throne” cannot be read. It is then that the Usher of the Black Rod, Mr. Arthur Bothamley, is master of the situation. He is arrayed in the most elegantly-fitting dress-suit, and carries a slim black rod in his hand. It is his duty to call the members of the Lower House to the

Legislative Council, and round him there is an aura of dignity and aloofness that is almost Regal.

Black Rod’s entrance to the House of Representatives is worthy of the best dramatic stage setting. The Prime Minister and the members o£ the House await his arrival with becoming calm. Carrying his wand of office in his right hand Black Rod crosses to the lower Chamber, followed by a sufficiently imposing retinue. The dark red curtains across what is known as the Bar of the House (the main entrance to the House of Representatives and not to be confused with Bellamy’s!) are suddenly parted by two attendants, and Black Rod appears, bowing thrice as he enters the chamber. He intimates in a voice which is as dignified as his bearing, that his Excellency “desires the attendance of this honourable House in Another Place.” Not once, during the session of Parliament, is the Legislative Council referred to by-that name in the House

of Representatives. It must always be called “Another Place.”

Having delivered his message, Black Rod retreats backward, again bowing thrice, and makes his way to the Council Chamber, where he seats himself, still holding his rod of office, until the ceremony is over.

As soon as Black Rod has disappeared, the members of the House of Representatives fall into line, headed by the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham. Behind him is the Sergeant-at-Arms, Major H. H. Browne, who bears the Mace. Then follows the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, the members of the Cabinet, the Leader of his Majesty’s Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, and the other Parliamentarians.

As the legislators reach the Upper House they take their seats, and his Excellency proceeds to read his Speech from the Throne. Only the half-stifled whisperings of newcomers break in upon the Governor-General’s voice as he delivers his message. The strangeness of the ceremony is too much for them to keep strictly silent.

The speech over, the GovernorGeneral hands a copy of the script to the keeping of Sir Walter Carncross and another to Sir Charles Statham. Then taking his lady by the hand, he leads her through the standing ranks of legislators and others and outside to the waiting limousine. There the Guard of Honour presents arms as the car drives away. But the whole of the ceremony does not end here. The members of the House of Representatives file back to their seats, and the machinery of the House is put in motion. Only formal business is done, however, and the House adjourns until the following day. Meanwhile another ceremony is taking place. ' This is the reception held by the wife of the Prime Minister, where the ladies are able to take stock of the new frocks over the teacups'. After the opening of every Parliament the wife of the Prime Minister holds her reception, the most important

function for the ladies as far as the opening day ceremony is concerned.

The ballroom of the old Government House is given over to Mrs. Coates’s tea party. It is a famous old room, which has seen many brilliant functions in days gone by when former Governors held State receptions there. This old home of the earlier Governors, now used for departmental offices, is some day to be demolished to make room for the new wing of the present Houses of Parliament.

The ballroom always presents a brilliant spectacle for Mrs. Coates's afternoon tea party, making a picturesque setting for the guests as they come and go or gather to talk of the work of the session, and comment on the opening ceremony. The guests of the Prime Minister’s wife usually include wives of the Legislative Councillors, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, military officers and other prominent folk. Naturally the men folk attend, but they are in the minority on this occasion, for the function is really the feminine opening of Parliament.

As the months go by many of the ladies will be seen in the galleries of the House, patiently knitting or embroidering as they listen to the speeches of the members down below. During the session most of the wives of the members and Ministers live in Wellington, and if there is anything exciting about to happen they like to be there to hear it. Listening in the gallery is a pastime which never seems to tire them.

Occasionally there will be slipper parties and other personal functions to brighten the long hours of the session. Lady Statham, who takes up her residence in the House for the duration of Parliament, has a suite of

rooms admirably suited for the purpose, and often has the members and their wives to supper. But for the most part listening and watching are the only noticeable part women play in the world of politics in New Zealand. Perhaps, before long, they will make history on the floor of the House.