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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

305

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.

N o . 74.

WEDNESDAY, 18th FEBRUARY, 1953.

1. Meeting of Senate.—The Senate met at three p.m., in accordance with the terms of the Resolution of the Senate passed on the 6th November, 1952.

2. Absence of the P resident.—The Clerk informed the Senate of the unavoidable absence of the President (Senator the Honorable Edward Mattner), and thereupon the Chairman of Committees (Senator G. J. Rankin) took the Chair as Deputy President.

3. PRAYERS. 4. Appointment of Deputy P resident.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O'Sullivan) moved—That, during the absence of the President, the Chairman of Committees (Senator G. J. Rankin) shall, on each sitting day, take the Chair of the Senate as Deputy President, and may, during such

absence, perform the duties and exercise the authority of President in relation to all proceedings of the Senate and to proceedings of Standing Committees and Joint Statutory Committees to which the President is appointed. Question—put and passed.

5. Death of Senator J. H. Chamberlain—Notification of Vacancy.—The Deputy President stated that it was with very great regret he had to announce to the Senate the death of Senator J. H. Chamberlain, which occurred on 1.6th January last. On behalf of honorable Senators the President had conveyed an expression of sympathy to Mrs. Chamberlain, pending the more formal resolution

of the Senate. The Deputy President also stated that, in accordance with Section 21 of the Constitution, the President had notified the Governor of the State of Tasmania of the existence of a vacancy in the representation of that State. .

Resolution of Sympathy.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’Sullivan) moved, by leave— That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of Senator John Hartley Chamberlain, Senator for the State of Tasmania, places on record, its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tenders its sincere sympathy to his widow and members of his family in their bereavement. And the motion having been seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Senator McKenna), and

supported by the Minister for Repatriation (Senator Cooper) and Senators Aylett and Guy— And all Senators present having risen, in silence— · Question—passed.

6. Death of the R ight H onorable J. H. Scullin.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’Sullivan) referred to the death on 29th January last of the Right Honorable J. H. Scullin, and moved, by leave—That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of the Right Honorable. James Henry Scullin, former member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Yarra and former Prime Minister and Commonwealth Minister, places on record its appreciation of his long

and meritorious public service, and tenders its sincere sympathy to his widow in her bereavement. And the motion having been seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Senator McKenna), and supported by the Minister for Repatriation (Senator Cooper) and Senator Sheehan— And all Senators present having risen, in silence—

Question—passed.

7. Adjournment as Mark of R espect.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’Sullivan) moved—That, as a mark of 'respect to the memory of the late Senator J. H. Chamberlain and the • late Right Honorable J. H. Scullin, the Senate do now adjourn. Question—put and passed. The Senate adjourned at twenty-five minutes to four p.m. till to-morrow at eleven a.m. '

8. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Benn, Brown, Byrne, Cormack, Devlin, Fraser, Gorton, Mattner, Robertson, Ryan, Tangney and Wordsworth.

JOHN EDWARDS.

Clerk of the Senate.

Bv Authority: L . F. J o h n s t o n , Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

F.2176.