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From the @WgtnCC archives, circa 1959: 'Request from a lady visitor to Wgtn. "Does one have to wear a hat in Parliament?"'
*deep breath* OK. Please remember that you asked for this.
THREAD: a brief overview of @nzparliament's long and slightly obsessive history with hats [1/] https://twitter.com/WCC_Archives/status/1310667408089124864
*deep breath* OK. Please remember that you asked for this.
THREAD: a brief overview of @nzparliament's long and slightly obsessive history with hats [1/] https://twitter.com/WCC_Archives/status/1310667408089124864
These days our Debating Chamber is mostly hat-free, but in the past the etiquette for when MPs had to doff or don their hats (be 'covered' or 'uncovered') was governed by complicated, arcane Westminster traditions inherited from @UKParliament. [2/]
![These days our Debating Chamber is mostly hat-free, but in the past the etiquette for when MPs had to doff or don their hats (be 'covered' or 'uncovered') was governed by complicated, arcane Westminster traditions inherited from @UKParliament. [2/]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjCNXfMUMAEvxUo.png "These days our Debating Chamber is mostly hat-free, but in the past the etiquette for when MPs had to doff or don their hats (be 'covered' or 'uncovered') was governed by complicated, arcane Westminster traditions inherited from @UKParliament. [2/]")
In @nzparliament, MPs had to remove their hats at specific times - when entering or leaving the chamber, when addressing the House, or when messages from the Governor were read to them - leaving MPs "bobbing up and down like jack-in-the-boxes." https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [3/]
IN CONTRAST, this meant that *keeping your hat on* became an important signal that a debate was *not* taking place at an inappropriate time – notably, if an MP wanted to speak after the doors had been locked for a vote, he had to be seated and hatted. [4/]
This system was, to put it mildly, A Little Bit Silly.
The rush for a hat in such circumstances sometimes produced ridiculous scenes as members desperately scrambled for a hat, ANYONE'S hat, whether it fitted or not. https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [5/]
The rush for a hat in such circumstances sometimes produced ridiculous scenes as members desperately scrambled for a hat, ANYONE'S hat, whether it fitted or not. https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [5/]
In the 1890s Richard Seddon, ‘not having his own hat handy... seized Mr Carroll’s black bowler with the huia feather in it, and Mr Buchanan, finding himself in a similar predicament, had to fit on Mr Duthie’s hat... roars of laughter greeted them in their strange headgear.’ [6/]
![In the 1890s Richard Seddon, ‘not having his own hat handy... seized Mr Carroll’s black bowler with the huia feather in it, and Mr Buchanan, finding himself in a similar predicament, had to fit on Mr Duthie’s hat... roars of laughter greeted them in their strange headgear.’ [6/]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjCgCZxUMAQ2IwU.png "In the 1890s Richard Seddon, ‘not having his own hat handy... seized Mr Carroll’s black bowler with the huia feather in it, and Mr Buchanan, finding himself in a similar predicament, had to fit on Mr Duthie’s hat... roars of laughter greeted them in their strange headgear.’ [6/]")
![In the 1890s Richard Seddon, ‘not having his own hat handy... seized Mr Carroll’s black bowler with the huia feather in it, and Mr Buchanan, finding himself in a similar predicament, had to fit on Mr Duthie’s hat... roars of laughter greeted them in their strange headgear.’ [6/]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjCgPDKU4AAPso7.png "In the 1890s Richard Seddon, ‘not having his own hat handy... seized Mr Carroll’s black bowler with the huia feather in it, and Mr Buchanan, finding himself in a similar predicament, had to fit on Mr Duthie’s hat... roars of laughter greeted them in their strange headgear.’ [6/]")
On another occasion, William Rolleston grabbed Sir John Hall’s ‘particularly narrow and particularly high chimney-pot’ and ‘thrust it on his head’, causing 'uncontrollable mirth.' (Standards of humour were probably slightly lower back then.) https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [7/]
This strange state of affairs lasted until the 1960s (unlike @HouseofCommons, where the rule that an MP making a point of order had to wear a top hat was only removed in 1998).
But over the years, some NZ MPs pushed back against the iron grip of Parliamentary Hat Culture™...[8/]
But over the years, some NZ MPs pushed back against the iron grip of Parliamentary Hat Culture™...[8/]
When Elizabeth McCombs was elected as NZ's first woman MP in 1933, The Press asked if she'd wear a hat in the House – as Lady Astor had done when she took her seat in @HouseofCommons – but McCombs said she never wore one at local body meetings, and wouldn't in Parliament. [9/]
![When Elizabeth McCombs was elected as NZ's first woman MP in 1933, The Press asked if she'd wear a hat in the House – as Lady Astor had done when she took her seat in @HouseofCommons – but McCombs said she never wore one at local body meetings, and wouldn't in Parliament. [9/]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjCQJSqVkAABLBz.png "When Elizabeth McCombs was elected as NZ's first woman MP in 1933, The Press asked if she'd wear a hat in the House – as Lady Astor had done when she took her seat in @HouseofCommons – but McCombs said she never wore one at local body meetings, and wouldn't in Parliament. [9/]")
In the '60s & '70s, @nzparliament's dress code remained formal despite the changes in society. Younger MPs began to defy the Speaker with longer hair, coloured shirts - and a spectacularly hideous "garish orange towelling hat" from Bob Tizard in 1971 https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [10/]
![In the '60s & '70s, @nzparliament's dress code remained formal despite the changes in society. Younger MPs began to defy the Speaker with longer hair, coloured shirts - and a spectacularly hideous "garish orange towelling hat" from Bob Tizard in 1971 https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [10/]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjCjIA7VoAEDrGa.png "In the '60s & '70s, @nzparliament's dress code remained formal despite the changes in society. Younger MPs began to defy the Speaker with longer hair, coloured shirts - and a spectacularly hideous \"garish orange towelling hat\" from Bob Tizard in 1971 https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/the-speaker-in-history/ [10/]")
Fast-forward to 2020, and things are a bit more relaxed. MPs can still wear hats if they like - provided they're free from advertising - and visitors to the Public Gallery should avoid hats (except for religious reasons). https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/visit/public-gallery/ [11/]
That's it. That's the answer. "Does one have to wear a hat in Parliament?" Usually not, but it depends. Hope that helps, 1959 lady visitor to Wgtn. Sorry it took us so long. (And happy 150th birthday @WgtnCC!)
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