“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30586, 31 October 1964, Page 14

“The Press” In 1864

But there is one other point on which the Assembly must be informed, and about which there must be no mistake. Last session the Ministfts informed the Assembly that his Excellency cordially assented to their policy; and, indeed, since he has upheld and justified it to the Home Government, it is obvious that at that time Sir George Grey did assent to, or at all events pretended to assent to, the invasion of Waikato, the confiscation of land, and the suspension of the Habeas Corpus. How far the Governor has departed from those views, and has complicated matters by refusing to carry

out a policy which he pledged himself to enforce, we cannot say until we have the papers before us descriptive of the guerrilla war between his Excellency and his advisers. He is accused of doing so at all events. But there must be no more of this double dealing. The House must require some guarantees—material guarantees—that his Excellency will, during the recess, keep faith with the Ministers, and that the announcements made by the Ministers in the House shall be deemed absolutely and honorably binding on every member of the Government, including his Excellency, during the recess. That

guarantee according to constitutional custom is this—that when the Governor refuses to accept the advice of his Ministers he shall forthwith accept their resignation when tendered, and shall instantly seek for fresh advice. We do not hope to see the necessary laws passed next session, but we do hope the session after to see a statute on the books defining the responsibility of the’ Governor’s advisers, and the penalties to which they shall become liable for breach of their trust. If the law in the Colony is thus assimilated to the law of England, these conflicts between a Governor and his Ministers will be impossible.