DAZZLING SCENE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 87, 6 January 1933, Page 10

DAZZLING SCENE

Pageantry at Opening of Parliament ANCIENT CEREMONIES (Reuter—Special to ‘•'Dominion.”) ■ London, Nov. 21. With the passing of the Ottawa Agreements Bill and the Bill dealing with the administration of the means test, the present session of Parliament has come to an end, involving a prorogation and the customary ceremonial opening of Parliament by his Majesty Hie King with a speech from the Throne outlining ■ the Government’s legislative proposals for the new session which will continue until next autumn. The ceremony in the House of Lords when the King attends in state to open Parliament has justly been described as one of the most brilliant in the world. Tlie Upper Chamber provides a setting which is in. Itself unique, and the scarlet and ermine robes of the peers, tlie. wonderful drekses and tiaras of the peeresses and the brilliant uniforms of the high officials present a blaze of colour which is almost dazzling to the eye. Every seat in the galleries is eagerly sought weeks in advance and M.P.’s themselves have to ballot for the 150 places allotted to them. Others have to stand to witness the scene. The opening always takes place at noon, and their Majesties drive to Westminster in the wonderful historic gilded State Coach, which looks- as if it had been driven straight from fairyland. Blaze of Lights. The illumination in the House of Lords is kept low until the arrival of the King and Queen, but as their Majesties enter the lights blaze up, with immensely dramatic effect, the whole assembly rises and the scene becomes a pageant of indescribable brilliance. Robes, gowns and uniforms vie with each other in a gorgeous kaleidoscope of colour, and a thousand jewels sparkle. All eyes are fixed on the Royal thrones where the King and Queen take their seats,' wearing their jewelled Crowns of State, the diamonds in which flash fire with every movement. Sonorous and deliberate, the King's voice carries to’ the far corners of the Chamber, as he reads the Speech from tlie Throne, opening Parliament, and journalists often remark that they wish all speakers in Parliament could make themselves so clearly heard. Tlie ceremony lasts a bare fifteen minutes, the assembly rises again, bowing as their Majesties withdraw. Slamming Door in Black Rod’s Face. Tlie summoning of the HouSe 'of Commons to hear Hie King's Speech is one of the hiost interesting ceremonies in Parliamentary life. Black Rod, a high State official of tlie House of Lords, dressed in black court dress and bearing his long black wand (rather like a fishing rod), from which he derives his title, is dispatched to summons the Lower House. As he approaches'the door of the Commons is slammed in his. face by tlie Sergeant-at-Arms (who, under tlie direction of Mr. Speaker, is responsible for the maintenance of good order in tlie House). This act, quite rude.as it seems to tlie onlooker, is a survival of the ancient days when Parliament was fighting for its liberties, and is a symbolic token that only the elected representatives of the people have a right to set foot in the House of Commons. Black Rod then knocks loudly three times on the door with his stick, and is admitted, preceded by an official who at the Bar of the Hounse announces in stentorian tones “Black Rod.” In courtly old-world language Black Rod summons "this Honourable House to the House of Peers,” bowing low as he does so. Tlie Sergeant-at-Arms lifts the great golden Mace from the table and with the Speaker and Black Rod leads the procession to the Upper House with M.P.’s following in their train. Echoing down the corridor as they pass, comes the hoarse, time-honoured cry, “Make way for Mr. Speaker,” and the members' of tlie public who may De in the vicinity are bidden to remove their hats. The Speaker and tlie members of the Commons, on arrival at the Upper House, stand at the Bar. ami listen to tlie jtroeeedings. On their return to die Commons the Speaker formally reports what has happened and reads the King's Speech. Address-in-Reply. Later in the afternoon both Houses meet to begin the debate on the Address of thanks in reply to the King’s Speech. Tltis resolves itself into a general debate on the Government’s policy as announced by the Speech. The Address is always moved ami seconded by back bench supporters of the Government. In the old days it was an unbroken rule that the proposer and seconder should wear court dress, with the customary swords at tlieir side. With the advent of the Labour Party, however, this rule was departed from when the Labour Government was in office, in favour of the more democratic lounge suit. It is .-in old tradition that these two speeches should be non-party in tone, but on more than one occasion iu recent years the Speakers have allowed their party leanings to tempt them to have a hit at tlie Opposition, much to tlie general amusement. The debate on the Address .usually lasts three days, and includes. a general stqtmient of Government policy from the PFime Minister, and then the real wi.-- of the session commences.