The Swamped Council

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 11, 24 December 1925, Page 5

The Swamped Council

Governor’s Position MUST ACCEPT MINISTERS' ADVICE. CORRESPONDENCE TABLED. Hy Cable—Preen Association—Copyright., (Received 24, 11 a.m. Sydney, Dec. 24. Consideration of the Bill in the Assembly tor an amendment to the constitution to enable women to be appointed to the I pper House provoked an acrimonious debate, one member likening a women who wished to enter politics to a crowing hen. Correspondence between Mr. Lang and the Governor was tabled. It showed oig gaps in the nle, disclosing that there had been no communication from the Bth to 16th of December. The Minister explained that this was due to the letters being purely confidential. The correspondence showed that Mr. Lang insisted on the Governor following the advice of his Ministers. The Governor pointed out that he had received a communication from the Colonial Office to that effect. It seemed that the established and constitutional principles required that the question should be settled between the Governor and his Ministers. The Governor added: “This placed the powers of a Governor beyond question.” Mr. Lang replied, dissenting from this view and again urging the appointment of twenty-five councillors. Then followed a conference with the Governor and a further communication to Mr. Lang wherein His Excellency intimated that ho would consent to the appointment of fifteen members. Mr. Lang replied regretting that the Governor had rejected the advice of his Ministers, stating that any number less than twenty-five would be inadequate. The Governor, after denying that he rejected the Ministers’ advite, then agred to the appointment of l wen tv-five.

The Ministers state they were anxious throughout to maintain friendly relations with the Governor, but added that they do not know his future intentions.

One Minister said he feared the Governor would take a serious view of the affair and resign. The correspondence between Mr. Lang and the Governor, concerning the appointment of the Legislative Councillors has also been made available to the press, and shows that the Governor at first refused to agree to the Government’s request tor the appointment of 25 and suggested 15. Eventually the Governor agreed to make the appointments, acting on the advice of his Ministers, and on the advice given him by the Attorney-General in respect to the constitutional position. He added that he did so under protest, as he was still of opinion that the number was more than needed. Before the appointments were made the Dominion Office informed the Governor that the matter was one between him and his Ministers, but gave no instructions.

GOVERNOR’S ACTION

APPROVED BY COLONIAL OFFICE. London, Dec. 22. It is learned that the Colonial Office unequivocally endorses Sir Dudley de Chair’s action regarding the NewSouth Wales Legislative Council. While it is true Mr. L. M. Amery had been fully informed of the developments, it was untrue that Mr. Amery had either directly or indirectly attempted to influence the Governor’s action. This was unnecessary, because the Queensland precedent established the principle that Governors must accept" the advice of Ministers on constitutional questions.—(A. and N.Z.)