ENDING A SESSION

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 110, 5 November 1935, Page 7

ENDING A SESSION

v" • ; IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

HOW IT IS DONE

(By "Solon.")

The rising of the House of Parliament and the gazetting of the notice of its prorogation until the end of this month are reminders of the fact that in New Zealand we do not follow the British procedure in these matters.

In England the mace is used both in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords in the closing of the session of Parliament. Only the King can prorogue Parliament, but in recent years the Sovereign has not performed this ceremony in'person but has been represented by a Commission of Peers. The ceremonial involves five Peers who place their cocked hats upon their heads at the moment of reading ot - the authorisation of the King. There^ upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords, known as the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, proceeds to the House of Cosunons, the door of which is closed as he approaches, and knocks three times. The. Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons looks at him through a grating and then admits him. Black Rod acts as the messenger between.' the two Houses. In New Zealand, after the last Bills have been passed by both Houses, the House of Representatives adjourns "till the ringing of the bells!' to enable the ' ■ Royal Assent to be given to the measure. When the House resumes the Speaker obtains by Governor-General's message a list of the Acts which have been passed and the list is printed and laid on the table. The valedictory speeches are made and the Prime Minister moves the adjournment. The motion always goes to a division and the Speaker then leaves the.chair. FOREIGN CEREMONIES. The French method is pointed and pragmatic. One does not ■ associate hats with adjournments, but there is a traditional hat in the French House of Deputies,and the traditional owner is the President of the Chamber. He keeps the hat under, his seat for emergencies; when he puts it on and walks out of the Chamber it is a sign that the session is at an ned. In Germany and Italy (lands where obedience without ■ argument is the supreme political virtue) members ot the national assemblies merely raise their right hands in silent salute after the adjournment has been announced. In Japan, also, there is no elaborate ceremonial. In the United Slates the Senate and House pass a concurrent resolution bidding Congress .adjourn on a certain date. Sometimes the very hour of adjournment is specified. The resolution is necessary-because, under the Constitution, neither House can adjourn for over three days without the consent of the other body. . This custom has led to odd events, such as the putting back of clocks in the Chambers if the legislative programme has not been completed by the hour set for the adjournment. The "lame duck" amendment to the Constitution ended this practice. ■ Occasionally, in the United States. the Speaker will make a short address wishing members a safe journey back to their homes. There is a mace ia the American House of Representatives, though not in the Senate, but this plays no part in the final ceremonial. This mace is removed when the House is not in session, but if it is merely in recess the mace, remains, guarded by ft I policeman.