Philip Game
Sir Harold Scott | |
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Personal details | |
Born | First World War
| 20 March 1876
Awards | Mentioned in despatches (6) (France)Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy Officer of the Legion of Honour |
In March 1930, Game was appointed Governor of New South Wales, serving during a time of political instability and coming into conflict with the NSW Labor government over attempts to abolish the
Early life and career
Game was born in
Following the outbreak of the
Governor of New South Wales
At the height of the Great Depression, Game was appointed
Legislative Council abolition
Lang's previous term of office from 1925 to 1927 had brought him into conflict with Game's predecessor, Sir Dudley de Chair, over the proposed appointment of additional members to the Legislative Council, in order to enable the abolition of the house, using the same techniques used to abolish the Queensland Legislative Council in 1922. His inability to gain control in the Upper House obstructed Lang's legislative programme and in November 1930, claiming a mandate to abolish the council, Lang's Labor MLCs put forward two bills, one to repeal section 7A of the NSW Constitution (which prevented the abolition of the Council without a referendum), the other to abolish the council. Lang requested the necessary additional appointments to pass the legislation from Game. However, these requests were met with Game's refusal.[1]
Believing that a
Reflecting his status as a representative of the British Government, Game at all times informed the Dominions Office of political developments. In hard financial times, NSW soon came into conflict with the federal government as Lang's unorthodox financial policy opposed the economic orthodoxy advocated by Sir Otto Niemeyer, who was the main financial advisor to the Federal Scullin Labor government and later the Lyons United Australia Party Government. In July 1931, in a personal contribution towards economic recovery, Game notified Treasury to make a 25% deduction from his own monthly salary.[1]
Lang's Government soon introduced legislation to cope with the economic problems the state was facing. Its first move was the Reduction of Interest Bill, which was intended to default on payments of overseas debts to British bondholders in an attempt to negotiate the interest rate. The Legislative Council prevented passage on 26 March 1931 by resolving that the bill be read again in six months time. Lang again asked for additional members to force his legislation through. Game, aware of the weight of opinion in the
In March and June 1931 Lang repeatedly requested the necessary 80 appointments to swamp the council and prevent obstruction to his legislation. Game again refused, offering 21 appointments, which were enough to pass some of the legislation but not the most controversial bills, including the bill to default on debts.[17] Finally, in a compromise move with Lang, on 19 November 1931 Game assented to 25 appointments, reasoning that it would not be possible to refuse Lang's requests until the Privy Council case was resolved. His telegram to the Dominions Secretary the next day explained further: "I foresee if I refuse now I shall most probably be placed in position before long where...I should not be able to stop at twenty five but should have sooner or later to give sufficient appointments to carry rejected legislation. Such numbers might give Government a permanent majority to carry any and every extreme measure, and extreme factions would probably gain ascendancy owing to what they would represent as my obstinate partiality. Should I refuse appointments until appeal case is heard and should it result in abolition extremists would be in an even stronger position. After reviewing all arguments and considering possibilities I have reached conclusion that my proper and wiser course is to accept advice and have done so."[18]
During this Game questioned the result if Lang won the appeal to the Privy Council and the Legislative Council was abolished. Various correspondence between him and London confirms that had Lang succeeded, Game may have refused assent to the abolition bills, thereby making it the first time it had been withheld since 1708. This potential situation disappeared, however, with the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 31 May 1932. The judgment dismissed the appeal by the Government of New South Wales. The bills repealing Section 7A and abolishing the Legislative Council could not therefore be presented to the Governor for assent until they had been passed in a referendum.[17] Faced with other problems, Lang's plans for abolition ultimately failed. His successor as Premier, Bertram Stevens, later passed major reforms to replace the appointed Legislative Council, by a Council elected by the whole parliament to terms equivalent to four Assembly terms. This was passed by referendum in 1933.
Harbour Bridge opening
In March 1932, in anticipation of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, when Lang decided that he would cut the ribbon and incurred the displeasure of the King, Game reassured the King that Lang had the right to cut the ribbon. Game and his family found much amusement in the controversy thrown up over the matter and the question of whether Game, as governor, should have a 17-gun salute. The far-right New Guard were nevertheless enraged over Lang's decision, culminating in Francis de Groot's cutting of the ribbon just before the scheduled official opening on 19 March 1932. The ribbon was hastily reattached and Lang opened the bridge with Game looking on, and he later gave a speech commemorating the occasion.[10]
Dismissal
When the United Australia Party
On 13 May 1932 Game dismissed Lang's government and appointed the UAP leader,
End of term
During his governorship Game was the patron of several organisations including the District and Bush Nursing Associations and the
Metropolitan Police Commissioner
Upon his return to Britain, Game served as
Serving as Commissioner during very tumultuous times, Game had to deal with Fascist and Communist demonstrations, a bombing campaign waged by the
Towards the end of his time as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Game worked to establish a boys' club. The Sir Philip Game Boys' Club, situated in
He died at his home, Blakenhall,
Honours
Viceregal styles of Sir Philip Game | ||
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Reference style | His Excellency | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) |
1945[29] | |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) | 1924[8] | |
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) | 1919[32] | |
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) |
1937[26] | |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) |
1929[11] | |
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) |
1935[22] | |
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) |
1915 | |
Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) |
1929[13] | |
Queen's South Africa Medal | ||
1914–15 Star | ||
British War Medal | ||
Mentioned in Despatches |
||
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal | 1935 | |
King George VI Coronation Medal | 1937 | |
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | 1953 | |
Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy | 1917[6] | |
Officer of the Legion of Honour | 1917[7] |
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-9563244-0-5.
- ^ "No. 27459". The London Gazette. 29 July 1902. pp. 4835–4840.
- ^ a b c d "Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Game". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
- ^ "No. 27462". The London Gazette. 8 August 1902. p. 5098.
- ^ a b "No. 30096". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 May 1917. p. 5200.
- ^ a b "No. 30431". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 December 1917. p. 13206.
- ^ a b c "No. 32941". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1924. p. 4409.
- ^ "No. 33453". The London Gazette. 1 January 1929. p. 72.
- ^ a b c d e Clune, David; Turner, Ken (2009). The Governors of New South Wales: 1788–2010. Sydney: Federation Press. 473–495.
- ^ a b "No. 33472". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 March 1929. p. 1440.
- ^ "No. 33593". The London Gazette. 28 March 1929. p. 2061.
- ^ a b "No. 33618". The London Gazette. 30 June 1930. p. 3956.
- SR (NSW) 183 (23 December 1930), Supreme Court (Full Court).
- ^ Attorney-General (New South Wales) v Trethowan [1931] HCA 3, (1931) 44 CLR 394, High Court.
- (on appeal from Australia)
- ^ a b c Morrison, A S (1984), "Dominions Office Correspondence on the New South Wales Constitutional Crisis 1930–1932", PhD thesis, London
- ^ Telegram to Dominions Secretary James Thomas from Governor Game, 20 November 1931.
- ^ Virginia Goodman, Isador Goodman: A Life in Music (1983)
- ^ Letter by Sir P Game to Mrs Eleanor Hughes-Gibb, 2.7.1932, ML MSS 2166/5.
- ^ Foot, B (1968). Dismissal of a Premier – The Sir Philip Game Papers. Sydney: Morgan Publications. 190.
- ^ a b "Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) entry for Air Vice Marshal Philip Woolcott Game, KCB GBE DSO". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 11 May 1937. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
Governor of NSW
- ^ "No. 34166". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1935. p. 3597.
- ^ "Sir Phillip Game Reserve". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ "Sir Philip Game". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 March 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 25 July 2010 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "No. 34396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 1937. p. 3084.
- ^ "Timeline – 1900 to 1945". Friends of Metropolitan Police Heritage Charity. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ a b "History of the Metropolitan Police (1930–1949)". Metropolitan Police. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
- ^ a b "No. 37064". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 May 1945. p. 2351.
- ISBN 0207163472.
- ^ "One Bright Spot". Sir Philip Game Centre. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016.
- ^ "No. 31098". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1919. p. 91.