THE VALUE OF STATE GOVERNORS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 15, 17 July 1918, Page 2

THE VALUE OF STATE GOVERNORS

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, 10th July. 1 Tho oxpense of the State Governor syetorn appears to be a mattor of growing concern among some sections of the community, and there is not much doubt that tho time is approaching when thero will bo a firm demand that fhe King shall be represented in tho Commonwealth by tho Governor-General alone. The other day, at a Chamber of Commerce function, -tho now Governor, Sir Walter Davidson, expressed sonio wartime opinions on the eight-hours day and ovortimo which, while perfectly justified, j and- in order as a personal view, were I porhaps a little tactless. At any rate, he succeeded in stirring up tho Bolsheviks, and thoy proceeded to make a noise in the Legislative Assembly. A member began to ask a question about the speech, but was promptly pulled up by the Speaker. "The honourable member may not ask a question about the Governor." This excited tho Bolsheviks further, ami thoj declared that "His Excellency ought to keep out of politics." Later, the Labour Leader aaked under what Standing Order the Governor could not be referred to in respectful terms in tho House. The Speaker replied that he was acting under un opinion of May that no question could be put reflecting upon tho Sovereign, and tho same applied to the representative of 1 the Sovoreign. The Opposition emphati- : cally dissented from ' his ruling, and : various notices of motion relating to the matter now decorate the Order Paper. The Farmers' and Settlers' Association, i an important section of tho Nationalist organisation, is now in conference, and it had a tilt at the Governor system only this morning. A motion was abled advocating the abolition of State Governorships, in the interests of national economy. An amendmont proposed that the word "Governments" be substituted for "Governorships." and both proposals found a number of eloquent and earnest, friends. The majority was against both motion and amendment, however. Tho opinion of tho majority of the delegates was indicated by tho man who said "I come from tho Riverina. and if there were no Stato Parliament, the Federal Parliament would not know wp were there." Tho conference ■also rejected a motion expressing the opinion that .'.he country is over-govern-ed. The delegates thought that tho trouble does not lie in tho number of members of Parliament, 'but in the poor class of men who become members.