Canberra

A massy key of solid gold was inserted last week by a royal hand in the major keyhole of Australia's great new Parliament Building (TIME, April 18), at Canberra, the new Federal Capital of Australia.

The key turned swiftly at a deft wrist twist from His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Duke of York, second son of the King Emperor. Slowly the portals expanded. Soon the Duke of York faced the Australian Parliament, standing before a Speaker's chair similar to that in the House of Commons, London.

Said His Royal Highness, opening Parliament and inaugurating Canberra as the Federal Capital: ". . . May this day's ceremony mark the of this Commonwealth to those great ideals of liberty, fair dealing, justice and devotion to the cause of peace for which the Empire and all its members stand."

As part of the inaugural ceremonies, the Duke unveiled a statue of his father, George V, recalling that, just 26 years previous to a day, the present King-Emperor, then Duke of York, opened the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Cornwall and Australia at Melbourne, now "the old Capital."