Swearing-in goes smoothlybut M.P.s boycott luncheon

Press, 27 October 1977, Page 2

Swearing-in goes smoothly—but M.P.s boycott luncheon

PA Wellington Sir Keith Holyoake began a three-year term as Gover-nor-General of New Zealand yesterday after a brief but colourful swearing-in ceremony on the steps of Parliament buildings. A handful ct placard-wav-ing demonstrators were on hand to greet Sir Keith and Lady Holyoake as they arrived at Parliament on a sunny, blustery Wellington afternoon, but they were outnumbered by children waving tiny Royal flags and people bearing banners reading “We luv you, Sir Keith,” and “Sir Keith for ever.”

Several times during Sir Keith’s inspection of the three-Service guard of honour and the Royal New Zealand Air Force band, protesters shouted slogans, but there were fewer demonstrators than observers expected. Sir Keith and Lady Holyoake arrived at Parliament just before 12.30 p.m. and were welcomed by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and Mrs Muldoon. Some 300 to 400 people watched from behind steel barriers on the lawns in front of Parliament as a smiling Sir Keith inspected the guard of honour and,

with Lady Holyoake, ascended the red carpet to the official dai. on the main steps of the building. Members of Parliament, visiting dignitaries, and for; eign diplomats and their wives, many of them in bright traditional dress, watched in silence as the Clerk of the Executive Council (Mr P. G. Millen) read the Commission of Appointment. Sir Keith then took the oath of allegiance and the oath of office and, after a fanfare of trumpets and a 21-gun salute, the GovernorGeneral’s Standard was raised beside the New Zealand flag. The proclamation of assumption of office was then signed by Sir Keith and read to the gathering. Mr Muldoon gave a speech of welcome to their Excellencies, and after the Governor-General’s reply, Sir Keith and Lady Holyoake and Mr and Mrs Muldoon moved to the Speaker’s suite inside Parliament with members of the Cabinet and their wives, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) and Mrs Rowling. A buffet luncheon then followed in the new Beehive banquet hall, attended by about 200 invited guests.

A number of Labour Party members of Parliament including Mr Rowling refused to attend the luncheon. The Senior Opposition Whip (Mr T. J. Young) told the Press Association that Mr Rowling, the deputy leader of the Labour Party Mr Tizard, and “a number” of Opposition members had not been present at the luncheon. However, some Labour members were there, he said. Mr Young said the party had issued no formal directive to its members of Parliament, but individual members had been left to make up their own minds whether to be present. A barbecue lunch had been provided for those who had decided not to attend. The action is in line with the Labour Party’s continuing protest against the appointment of Sir Keith as Governor-General, which it sees as a political appointment. Both Mr Rowling and Mt Tizard attended the swearingin ceremony, and Mr Rowling made it clear that they would be present at formal occasions at which Sir Keith was in attendance, such as State

banquets, out of respect for the Queen. “We will participate in formal situations where the Governor-General presides as the representative of the Queen, but when it comes to bun fights we will leave it to other people,” Mr Rowling said. The Labour Party’s annual conference in Christchurch in May came out strongly against the appointment of Sir Keith — “an active politician” — as Governor-General-designate on the ground that the appointment did not have the support of a large section of the population. The party felt that Sir Keith, a former National Prime Minister, could be put in a difficult situation if asked to approve a snap election, or if there was a tie in a general election.

The Labour Party Maori Policy Advisory Council also called on Maoris to refuse Sir Keith a welcome on maraes, but this was later withdrawn because the council said it was anxious to ensure that the loyalty of the Maori people to the Queen was not confused with the council’s view about who should hold the post of Governor-General.