SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 10

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME OUTLINED

In accordance with traditional procedure,, the second session of the twenty-fifth Parliament of New Zealand was formally opened : this afternoon by his Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount ' Galway). The iyeather was fine, and a large crowd assembled in 5 the, grounds of Parliament Buildings- to view the spectacle, which ; was invested with the usual colourful formalities. The Governor- > General's Speech from the Throne was conveyed to the people out- . side by means of loudspeakers, and the whole proceedings were > broadcast. ■• The ceremony took place three-quarters of an hour later than | usual owing to the fact that members of both the Legislative ; Council and the House of Representatives had to be sworn in for . ' the second time, because of the change in the Monarchy of theBritish Empire during the recess. . His Excellency the Governor-General, accompanied, by Major A. F. Purvis, M.C., Scots Guards, Military Secretary, and Lieutenant Sir Standish O'Grady Roche, Bart, R.N., A.DjC., left Gov- ; eminent House at 3 p.m. escorted by mounted constables provided by the Police Department. As his Excellency left Government xlouse a salute of nineteen guns was fired by the R.N.Z.A. from the saluting battery at Point Jerningham, and shortly after the last gun had sounded the viceregal party entered Parliament Grounds. When his Excellency alighted before the steps of Parliament Buildings he was received by the three officers commanding the New Zealand naval, military, and air forces, Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond. C.8., M.V.0., R.N., Major-General J. E. Duigan, C.8., D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., and Group-Captain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, A.F.C., R.A.F. The 2nd Artillery Brigade. Group Band played the first' 1 , six bars of the. National Anthem, and his Excellency then inspected the guard of honour provided by the Royal New Zealand Artillery, Fort Dorset, and the Army School, Trentham, which was commanded by Captain C. J. Duff, R.N.Z.A., and Lieutenant B. Wicksteed, R.N.Z.A. After inspecting the guard of honour his Excellency proceeded ' to the Legislative Council, others in the procession being Reac-Ad- '. miral Drummond, Major General Duigan, Group-Captain Cochrane, Win^Commander T. M. Wilkes, C.8.E., M.C., R.N.Z.A.F., A.D.C., Colonel I. T. Standish, C.M.G., D.5.0., R.N.Z.A., A.D.C. to the King, and Captain R. D. Oliver, D.S.C., R.N., A.D.C. On entering the Legislative Council Chamber his Excellency commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (Captain Douglas Bryan) to summon members of the House of Representatives. On their arrival his .Excellency read the Speech from the Throne, a copy of which was handed to him by the Leader of the Legislative Council (the Hon. Mark Fagan). Both Houses assembled at 2.30 p.m. and members were imme- • diately summoned to take the oath of allegiance. In the Lower Chamber the Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) remained standing at the side of the Chair until a quorum of members had been sworn by the Clerk, Mr. T. D. H. Hall, and as he assumed his seat the Mace was placed on the table. The full ceremony took 2o . minutes and the House adjourned until 3.15. p.m., when it was summoned by his Excellency to the Legislative Council. Chamber. In the Legislative Council Chamber full galleries witnessed the swearing-in ceremony.