Big Crowd Attends Session’s Opening

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 10

Big Crowd Attends Session’s Opening

I From Our Parliamentary Reporter]

WELLINGTON. June 7. A crowd gathered near Hie steps of Parliament Buildings today more than an hour before the Governor-General (Lord Cobham) arrived to oppn the new session of Parliament.

The Governor-General arrived alone and in the Speech from the Throne mentioned the absence of Lady Cobham on account of illness.

Within seconds of Jhe ending of the National Anthem, played by the R.N.Z.A.F. Band, a perfectly timed flight of Canberra bombers roared over in salute.

It was a cool, but sunny, afternoon, and nearly 1000 people stood before the beflagged facade of the building as Lord Cobham inspected the R.N.Z.A.F. guard of honour.

Although ’he executive of the University of Victoria Students’ Association had refused to sanction a demonstration by its members against the increase in their fees, there was a silent cluster s of banner-carrying students on the lawns.

..“Big Keeth Wants Fees No: Degrees” and "Big Keeth Rules Payway Not Playway’’ were the messages on their banners.

Representatives of the law. the churches and the universities. civic leaders and about 300 other guests, as well as members of the House of Representatives listened to the 2000-word Speech from the Throne. Twenty-one countries were

represented by their diplomats—probably the larges: representation at the opening of any Parliamentary session. In addition to memberof the Diplomatic Corps in Wellington, three ambassadors for Canberra, who are also accredited to New Zealand, attended.

Sir John McLeay, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, on a visit to New Zealand with Lady McLeay, and their daughter, were among the Government’s guests.