"BLACK ROD" RETIRES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 190, 28 August 1937, Page 6

"BLACK ROD" RETIRES

-Pres3 ;Asaociation.)

. 66, Years .of Continuous Service. ; PARLIAMENTARY REGORD

' (By Telegraph-

: WELLINGTON, This Day. The retirement of :Mr A. T. Bothamley . from the office of Gentleman Usher of the Black Jlod is announced by" the Prime Minister, the Rt.l Hon. M. J. Savage, • and ihe position - is to be filled by Captain Doiiglas Bryan, of Wellington, who served in-Egypt and Gallipoli. In 1915 he' was wduM'ed and returned to -New - Zealaiid. -From-" October, 1915, to February, 1919, lie served as A.M.S. and A.D^C. ' to the .'GeneralOfficer Commanding the New* Zealand forces and from July, 191'9, "to Novem- ■ ber" of that year he was ajbtached to headquarter,s of -the N.Z.E.F.J in London, including tWo' months ; with the Fourth Qorps theadquazt'ers - in. Gefmany. In' Jul.y, rl920, . he was attacbed.- to tho Fkst'tBattalion ; Queefi's *Regimdnt at ■ AlclefshotL .. :• •' ^ ..." . Mr ..SaVage said that Mr; Bothamlcy 's service covered more " than *half the full "history of the New Zcalarid Parliament. , He" had been a,.Parlia'mentary offieer since 1871 ahd .also the first and . only Gentleman - Usher of the Black' Rod for 45 years. That meant . 66 years of . continuops service, in,: which time "there had not been a bleniish/ Mr -BQthamley is now in' bis 91st year, Two of his.sons are .in* the service of Parliament, one ' as- " Clerlc of Parliament and the . other as * clerk assistant to the' House . of Representatives. .'