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Press, Volume LI, Issue 15462, 15 December 1915, Page 6

The arrangements for the River Bank Carnival, to bo held to-morrow, have been completed, and we trust that the public will make up their minds to crown with success tho labours of thoso who havo been busying themselves with the organising of this interesting and novel display. There are many people opposed to any method of raising funds otherwise than by a direct compulsory levy, but these, we are sure, will not wish to cease giving their assistance to such carnivals a3 that which is to bring the public into the Park tomorrow. It is some time since our citizens were called upon to make a special effort to increaso tho Patriotic and as everyone is prosperous and money plentiful, tho promoters of the Carnival have a right to expect that a largo amount will bo raised. The variety of tho attractions and the handsome setting of the Carnival ought to make it especially easy for the citizens to open their pockets. Everyone ought to visit the Park with a determination to spend as much he can possibly afford.

Among those who were in New Zealand when the Earl of Glasgow was Governor of the colony, there will be genuine regret at the announcement of his death, which we publish this morning. Beginning life in tho Navy, Lord Glasgow was ".1 plain, blunt man," with a high sense of duty, and his homely ways and the unassuming goodness of Lady Glasgow commended themselve.s to the simple-living colonists of those days.

Immediately Lord Glasgow assumed office in 1892, he had to deal with a constitutional question of great importance, -which ho handled with firmness and ability, although he had to give way in the end. Mr Ballance. who nad recently come into office, desired to increase tho Legislative Council by twelve members, on the ground that although he had a good majority in the Lower House, the Attorney-General, who was the only Minister in the Upper House, had only four or live members to support him. Lord Glasgow Tvas willing to concede nine members. If he conccded more, ho argued, he would run the risk of making the Council a mere echo of tho other House: if it were to have 110 opinion of its own it was oi' no use, but if it preserved its liberty, and gave the country time to reconsider questions, it might be of inestimable service to the country. Mr Ballance, instead of resigning when the Governor refused to accept his advice, appealed to the Homo Government. lxird Kr.uteford, who was Colonial Secretary at tho time, instructed Lord Glasgow to reopen the matter and waive his objections. He pointed out that no question of "swamping" arose, as there

■was no question of overthrowing the balancc of party altogether. The difference between the number , the Governor was ready to appoint and the twelve asked for was too small to justify the Governor assuming the very serious responsibility of declining to act on the advice of his Ministers, and possibly of having in consequence to find other advisers.

Incidentally I.Kird Knutsiord laid down some important principles as to the rules which should guide a Governor in relation to his Ministers. The Governor slioukl discuss with his Ministers the desirability ot any particular course oressed upon him ior his adoption, and should frankly state his objections, if any. But if. after full discussion. Ministers determined to press their advice, the Governor should, as a general rule, and when Imperial interests were n<;t affected, accept that advice. A Governor would, however, bo justified in taking another course 'if he should be satisiie.d that the policy recommendoJ to him is not only, in his view, erroneous in itself, but, such as ho has colid grounds for believing, from hi 3 local knowledge, would rot be endorsed by tho Legislature or by the constituencies.'' In "so extreme a case ar this," the Governor '"must be prepared to accept tho crave responsibility of seeking other advisors," but "very strong reasons would be necessary to justify so exceptional a course 011 the part of the Governor.''

In reply to this despatch. Ixird Glasgow, with characteristic tenacity, raised a new point of considerable constitutional importance. Ho maintained that an appeal io tho Colonial Office was not a natural step to be taken by a Ministry with a. proper conception of the rights and privileges of a selfgoverning colony, and urged that it was their duty to resign or to give way, and not to act .'ls thev had done in this case. He stoutly urged that the practice of referring to the Colonial Office differences between Colonial Governors and Ministries, of tho calibro at least of the one in question, -was not one to be encouraged, inasmuch as the groat colonies all possessed the. inestimable boon of self-government as fully and freely as did tho Mother Country. In this view Lord Glasgow was perfectly right, in our judgment, and Lord Knutsford's reply was singularly weak. He merely said that the objection came too late—it should havo been made earlier, before the reference actually took place. He (Lord Knutsford) had not sought the reference, but he would not bo justified in refusing an expression of his view when it was asked for by the Governor of the Colony or by liia constitutional advisers. It was a bold step for a Colonial Governor in his first year to counsel more independence of Downing street on the part of Governments of self-governing colonics. And perhaps it would bo too much to expect tho head of the Colonial Office to concur in tho view that the less his advice or interference was sought, the hotter. 0 '