 He served on the Joint Committee of Public Accounts from 1926 to 1932, including for a period as chairman.He was elected President of the Senate on 1 July 1938, becoming the first Tasmanian to hold the position.His election meant that the positions of President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Prime Minister were all held by Tasmanians (George John Bell being the incumbent speaker and Joseph Lyons the incumbent prime minister).