OFFICIAL RUDENESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 687, 12 June 1929, Page 9

OFFICIAL RUDENESS

PRESS SLIGHTED AT SYDNEY INVESTITURE

KING’S BIRTHDAY CEREMONY

(THE SUN'S Sydney Correspond* nt) SYDNEY, June 3. Courtesy and cordiality were not the outstanding features of the investiture ceremony by the Gov-ernor-General of Australia, Lord Stonehaven, today, so far as the representatives of the Press were concerned. The reporters and cameramen had to wait about for a long time to get their news, as instructions at the gate of Admiralty House were that the Press was to be given the liberty of the grounds, but were not to be admitted to the investiture proceedings. r FIIK discourtesy of the Admiralty House staff, particularly of one member, in all the panopoly of solo braid and military uniform, was in strong contrast with the treatment of journalists at State Government House ceremonies by the New South Wales Governor. Sir Dudley de Chair. The pressmen were humiliated. Sir Dudley de Chair was present at the ceremony, and on his way into Admiralty House had a cheery greet ing for the reporters and photograph ers. The dog at Admiralty Horn r.)so had a wag of the tail for the journalists. The policeman at the gate, the butler and other servant* also were courteous. One reporter was shown to the billiard-room and then was curtly told by one of the staff that the in vestiture proceedings were not open to the Press. He retired to the grounds. The same staff member was asked after the ceremony for the honour list. With his customary politeness 1. said that the Press would get he list, but It would have to wait. “If you worry me now. I’ll strike you,” he said, with a superior sni.rl “I’m busy.” As he strode off, one of the press men informed him that he and hi* colleagues were also busy men. Apparently the words brought the staff officer to a sense of his duties, for a few minutes later the journal ists were escorted to the billiard room. “Here’s the list,” quoth the officer, glancing over it. “You can do your worst with it now.’* He did not explain the mysterious abbreviations on the sheet of paper, and condescended to do so only when asked for an explanation on his return. Those who received honours were very surprised that the Press was not admitted to the function. So •was the Press. Still, the reporters obtained the list, and the photographers their pictures.