Artist: Frederic Steiger
Portrait Hung: 1951

Election (11 July 1949) and Approbation (13 July 1949) of Speaker (Journal)

"And the said Commissioners having left the Assembly Chamber, the Honourable the Premier then addressing himself to the clerk, who standing up pointed to him and then sat down, moved "that Reginald Sparkes, Esquire, member elected for the District of St. Barbe, do take the Chair of the House as Speaker" which motion was seconded by John G. Higgins, Esquire, Member elected for the District of St. John's (Eastern Division).

No other person being proposed as Speaker Mr. Sparkes was unanimously called by the House to the Chair, and was conducted to the Chair by the Members who proposed and seconded him.

Whereupon Mr. Speaker standing on the steps, addressed the House, expressing his gratitude to the Honourable Members for the high honour unanimously conferred upon him."

(...)

29^th General Assembly, 1^st Session (11 and 13 July 1949).

Approbation of the Speaker (13 July 1949, Hansard)

29^st General Assembly, 1^st Session (13 July 1949).

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Election (11 March 1952) and Approbation (12 March 1952) of the Speaker (Journal)

"Mr. Speaker returned to Assembly Chamber preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Whereupon, the Administrator having taken his seat, Honourable the Premier, addressed His Honour as follows:

May it please your Honour, The House of Assembly, agreeable to Your Honour's Command, have proceeded to the choice of a Speaker, and have elected Reginald Sparkes, Esquire, Member for the District of St. Barbe to that office, and by their direction, I present him for the approbation of Your Honour.

His Honour was pleased to reply:

On behalf of Her Majesty I assure you of my sense of your efficiency and I do most fully approve and confirm you as the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Speaker addressed His Honour as follows:

Your Honour's ready approval of the choice with which I have been honoured by the House having constituted me in due form the Speaker of the House of Assembly it has now become my duty in the names of the representatives of Her Majesty's loyal subjects, the people of this Province, and respectfully to claim of Your Honour their accustomed rights and privileges and that they shall have freedom of speech in their debates that they may be free from arrest during their attendance in Parliament and that I, as Speaker, may have full access to Your Honour's presence and that they have confirmed to them all their ancient rights and privileges which have been confirmed to them by Your Honour's predecessors.

His Honour was pleased to reply:

On behalf of Her Majesty I do confirm this House in the enjoyment of all its ancient and undoubted rights and privileges "

(...)

30^th General Assembly, 1^st Session (11 and 12 March 1952).

Approbation of the Speaker (12 March 1952, Hansard)

30^th General Assembly, 1^st Session (12 March 1952).