NEW BLACK ROD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1931, Page 13

NEW BLACK ROD

LOUD BLEDISLOE'S GIFT

FORMAL PRESENTATION

Tho formal presentation of the Ad-drea'seH-in-Heply to tho Speech from the Throne, from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives respectively, wero made to tho GovernorGeneral this morning. The Speaker of the Legislative Council (Sir Walter Carncross), i.ceompaiiicd by tho Clerk of PatliaiiK.ils (Mr. E. W. Kauo), and members 0.7 tho Council, visited Government House shortly after 11 a.m.j and after they had departed the Speaker of tho Houso (Sir Charles Statham), attended by the Clerk of the House (Mr. T. D. H. Hall), tho Sergeant-at-Anns (Major Browne) with the Mace, and about twenty members, arrived. After tho customary formalities of tho presentation of the Address from tho Council, the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) presented to the Speaker- a handsome replica of tiie Black Bod used in the House of Lords. His Excellency dwelt upon the antiquity of tho office of Gentleman Usher of. the Black Eod, and related some interesting and amusing incidents which have been associated with it during British history. On behalf of the Legislative Council, Sir Walter Carncross expressed thanks for the gift, and remarked on tho great interest Lord Bledisloe had taken in tho Council since his arrival in the Dominion. He assured His Excellency that the new Black Rod would be a greatly valued possession. Tho now Black Eod is of turned ebony, and is handsomely gold mounted at the butt, in the middle, and at the loi). Its chief ornamental feature is a gold lion rampant at the end, bearing a shield with the Royal Coat of Arms and tho motto, "Honi soit gui mal y penso" in enamel. The bas bears the inscription, "Presented to the Legislative Council of New Zealand by Charles, Baron Bledisloo, of Cydney, GovernorGeneral, January, 1931." The length of tho rod is slightly over 3ft, so that it contracts strigingly with the longtapered unembellished staff which has been carried by the Gentleman Usher hitherto —an instrument facetiously referred to as a glorified billiard cue. The now rod was made by Garrard and Co., Ltd., London, and when not in use will be kept in a silk-lined leather ease. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Eod, who carries the rod at the opening of Parliament, is an official of the Upper House of Parliament instituted in 1350. His appointment is by royal letters patent, .and his title is due to his staff of office. Ho is a personal attendant of the. Sovereign in the Upper House. He is also responsible for the maintenance of' order in the House of Lords, and on him falls the duty of arresting any peer guilty of breach of privilege <$r other office of which the House takes eognianec. In this respect his duties correspond to those of Ser-goant-at-Arms in the Commons. The duty, however, which brings him most into prominence is that of summoning the Lower House and their Speaker to the Upper Honso to hear a Speech from tho Throno or the Eoyal assent given to Bills. Black Eod. is on such occasions the central figure of a curious House takes cognisance. In this respect ancc. Tho now Black Rod is the complement of the replica of the House of Commons Mace presented to tho House of Representatives shortly before the war by Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues.