OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

COLOURFUL CEREMONY

The scene in the Legislative Council Chamber where the ceremonial opening of Parliament was held yesterday was colourful and .impressive, and the galleries were crowded with visitors. Her Excellency Lady Freyberg, who accompanied the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg) wore a coat of pale blue and silver moire taffeta, made with a belted waistline and flared skirt. Under it she wore a frock of hydrangea blue satin with cowl collar and touches of blue and silver at the neckline. Her hat was made of hydrangea blue satin and she wore diamond ornaments. Mrs Hilda Ross, Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children, wore a long gown of deep blue crepe, with side drapery; Miss Mabel Howard wore a long black frock with embroidery of bright blue sequins on the shoulders, and Mrs I. M. Ratana wore a short black frock.

Of the five women members of the Legislative Council four wore long black dresses and white gloves. They were Miss M. Anderson and the three new members, Mrs C. H. Weston (Wellington), Mrs E. M. Gould (Auckland), and Mrs F. Burrell (Christchurch), whose frock was lightened at the neckline with silver lame. Mrs M. M. Dreaver wore a long frock of claret coloured velvet.

Mrs S. G. Holland, wife of the Prime Minister, wore a dress of silver grey corded silk and a grey hat with feather curved over the crown, Miss Jocelyn Holland wore a blue-grey frock with maroon hat and accessories and a silver fox fur, and her sister Miss Lois Holland, wore a dusky pink crepe frock, a light brown cloche hat. and a red fox fur. Miss Rosemary Eley, lady-in-waiting to Lady Freyberg, wore a black frock under a sand-coloured fitted coat, and a black satin hat.

After the ceremony, the Speaker of the House (Mr M. H. Cram) and Mrs Oram held a reception at which Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg and a party from Government House wqre present. Among the guests were Cabinet Ministers and their wives, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Peter Fraser), judges of the Supreme Court, wearing their scarlet rcbes, and accompanied by their wives, members of the Diplomatic Corps and their wives, and representatives of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Mrs Oram wore a smart beige frock and long coat to match.