QUEENSLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 7

QUEENSLAND.

KIDSTON MINISTRY ; AHD THE; GOVERNOR. ROYAL PREROGATIVE. WAS IT USED CONSTITUTIONALLY? i DT TELEGRAM! —PREBS ASSOCIATION—COriMOUT • ..Brisbane,. March 11... In tho Assembly Mr. Kidston, Premier,' referring to tangles which had-'occurred''over tho elections of Speaker and Chairman. of Committees, declared that no party was to blaino for tho existing stato'of affairs. Ho had failed to induce tho other parties to givo way, and therefore did tho. next best thing, namely, let his own party rotiro'fronr'tlio.' competition in tho election of., ai chairman. Mr. Barton movod the Addrcss-in-lleply. The Address expressed tho opinion that the last Parliament, in -refusing Supply,Victcd constitutionally, and respectfully expressed regret that tho .Governor had seen fit to dissolve a Parliament'newly elected and per T fectly ablo and willing to carry on-business, providing tho Governor took the advice tendered' him. It placed on record disapproval of tho methods' employed to obtain control of £657,000 of public money after tho Assembly had not only ! not given' : express, authority, but had absolutely -refused.,to -do.; SO. ' 'i ' ■;

. Wiiilo recognising; the:' extonsiye ,* powers: Royal prerogative vested in the '• Governor tho Address maintained that' constitutional practice required that-. thoso- powers:; should bo oxercisod by such person in such a .maimer.',' as -would'-prove acceptable •'tbW majority of the, House, j and jn the manner', his late advisers had counselled. -. The. exercise of ■ tho. Governor's powers was. an invasion of their' rights as •• »■ -self-governing peoplo. : ...... ...; ■ . Tho. debate was. adjourned. ' ' ~■"(>?' Tho extraordinary tone of tho 'A'ddrCss is generally, understood , to. bo the beginning of a campaign Mr. Kidston' is '■ entering"- on .with' regard to the Governor (Lord Chelmsford).: It is believed that included.-.in .the. campaign will bo a resolution refusingjSupply covering tho amount expended'/,during the"! Philp regime. ' '" '' :

'Mr. Kidston, resigned as the rosulfc of the Legislative Council's refusal to include farmers in the operation .of thp.Wagesßoard'Bill. .Ho desired to make a sufficient, number, of appointments to the Legislative Council to enable iiim to carry; his proposals; but this was refused him. by tho Governor, who. also/declined to grant a dissolution !it'o i -.test'.the; feeling of J tho country on .the,' qu'e&ioitf-.'Mr? Kidston had only hold office by tlie grace of the Labour party. The Governor sent for Mr. Philp, who constructed a Cabinet,, .was*'immediately, defeated. He applied for a dissolution, and it was', granted him, &f.- '.j," i v :