Twenty sixth governor of New South Wales.

Born in England in 1876 and arrived as governor in Sydney in 1930 after a distinguished military career.

Faced a very difficult and controversial time as governor. He arrived during a severe depression. Adding to this was the radical socio-economic views of J. T. Lang, the premier who also wanted to abolish the nominated Upper House.

Game raised objections when asked for a number of appointments to the legislative Council, in order to abolish that chamber. The previous government had, in 1929 obtained an act providing that the council might not be abolished without a referendum.

Game urged Lang, the premier, to wait until the council had rejected an abolition bill; but when Lang insisted he agreed to appoint twenty-five new members. Lang however presented a much larger list, which Game refused.

The issue arose again in March 1931 when the council blocked two of Lang’s most controversial legislative proposals, an arbitration bill and the reduction of interest bill. Game refused to support these and was accused by some of Lang’s supporters of acting in the interests of the bondholders. He rejected a similar request in June after a split between the premier and Federal Labor Party and the economic situation aggravated by the closure of the Government Savings Bank had further complicated the political situation. By this time the council had built up a large list of rejected bills and political tension had increased amid growing economic depression. Lang was particularly concerned about his emergency taxation bill. The secretary of state in London refused Lang’s request to intervene.

The question of whether the governor was entitled to discretion in the matter of advice concerning Upper House appointments remained unresolved. In September and November, Lang asked for more appointments. He refused in September but relented in November. This led to accusations by the public and the media of accepting bribes from Lang.

When Lang would not pay the interest on his overseas debts, a confrontation developed between him and the Commonwealth government. Game was pushed toward a confrontation with his premier. Game felt that Lang should follow the law or resign. Lang refused and on May 13, 1932, Game dismissed him. Parliament was dissolved and in the election that followed Lang’s party was heavily defeated. The Labor Party split and Lang lost support.

During Game’s term (23 April 1934) the nominated Legislative Council of New South Wales was replaced by a body elected by proportional representation and by the members of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly voting as an Electoral College. This meant that the powers of the Governor were considerably less than those that early governors had enjoyed. The Governor had become primarily the local representative of the Crown and titular head of the Government of New South Wales, performing many ceremonial and formal duties.

Constitutional duties included appointing the Executive Council, presiding over its deliberations, assenting or refusing to assent to Bills passed by the Legislature, to keep and use the Public seal of the State, to appoint all ministers and officers of the state and in proper cases to remove and suspend officers of the State. He exercised the King’s prerogative of mercy but only on the advice of the Executive Council in capital cases.

The rest of Game’s term was uneventful. He remained unhappy that he had felt forced to dismiss his premier. He remained on good terms with Lang after the dismissal exchanging gifts at Christmas.

Left Sydney in 1935 and became Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police.