MILITARY REVIEW

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1937, Page 5

MILITARY REVIEW

PREVENTS N.S.W. HOUSE QUORUM SYDNEY, August 5. Because- the military pageantry in Macquarie Street at the official opening of the State Parliament yesterday had captured the attention of members, who were viewing the ceremonial from the verandahs of the House the Legislative Assembly nearly did not meet. When the bells were rung shortly before noon to call the Assembly together there was no response, and officials rushed into the corridors, calling, “Quorum, quorum,” as the sands in the hour-glass before the Clerk were running out.

Members, however, were deaf to the call until the Minister for Labour and Industry, Mr. Dunningham, on entering the chamber- quickly sized up the situation and hastily conscripted the necessary 20 members to form a quorum and so saved the day. NEARLY COUNTED OUT But for his action the House would have been “counted out,” because a quorum was not present, and under Parliamentary procedure could not have been called together again that day. Had this position arisen the Usher of the Black Rod, on being directed by the President of the Legislative Council to inform the Assembly that the Governor desired its presence in the Upper House for the official opening, would have found no one to whom to deliver his message.