Election of Speaker

I have to report that, accompanied by members, I waited upon His Excellency the Governor-General at Parliament House yesterday, when I addressed His Excellency as follows:

May it please Your Excellency:

In obedience to Your Excellency’s request, the Members of the House of Representatives, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, have proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and, as the subject of their choice, I now present myself to you and submit myself for Your Excellency’s confirmation.

To which His Excellency replied as follows:

Mr Speaker, it is with much pleasure that I approve the choice by the House of Representatives of you as its Speaker.

I congratulate you on your election to this distinguished office, marking as it does the appreciation of the House of Representatives of your impartiality and ability.

I have further to report that I also addressed His Excellency as follows:

I humbly thank Your Excellency for your confirmation of the choice made by the Members of the House of Representatives of me to be their Speaker.

I have now, on their behalf, to lay claim to all their privileges, and especially to freedom of speech in debate, to free access to Your Excellency whenever occasion may require it, and to the most favourable construction being put on all their proceedings.

To which His Excellency replied as follows:

Mr Speaker, I confirm all the rights and privileges of the House of Representatives which have ever been granted.

I assure you that the House of Representatives shall always have ready access to me, and that I will at all times place the most favourable construction upon its proceedings.

I desire to repeat my respectful acknowledgment to the House of the high honour it has done me in electing me to be its Speaker.