The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 266, 19 May 1855, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, May 19, 1854. The general temper of the public mind announces the almost immediate downfall of the principle of " Ministerial Responsibility," as attempted to be carried out in this Province. As we supposed, the public are thoroughly sick of a sham, and they see clearly the difference between a Governor, appointed by and responsible to the Crown, and a Superintendent elected by and responsible to the people. Whilst, however, the last scene is being played out, whilst the last good joke is still amusing the thoughtless, let us begin, like sober, practical men, to look forward to the real business of life. It is time for us to consider what manner of Government we shall substitute for the one we have partially enjoyed. We want a really responsible Government, not a'" ministerially" responsible one. The expression, " in a strictly ministerial sense," when attached to the word Responsibility modifies its meaning to about the same extent as "in a strictly Pickwickian sense" modifies an insult offered in the celebrated Pickwick club. It is true that now and then people vented their bad temper upon the "'ministers" when they did not wish to attack His Honor, but they never dreamt cf considering them really responsible. Any real responsibility attaching to them would be necesjsariiy .inconsistent with that of the Superintendent. Our correspondent, "Connell Counsellor," has begun at the root of the matter. He enquires into the practical meaning cf the word "responsibility," and points out very clearly the absurdity of striving for an empty form when we cannot obtain the reality. As the law stands" at present, we cannot have ministerial responsibility in New Zealand. If this be the case in the General Government, whose machinery bears some kind of analogy to that of the mother country, —how great must the anomaly be of

attempting to graft the system upon our Provincial Governments. Men are apt to run away with a cry, without enquiring what it means, or where it will lead them. A little experience, however, will we hope not be thrown away upon^this^Province. We have run away with the cry of Ministerial Responsibility, without considering our immediate circumstances and the state of the law on the subject,—and we have been led by the late dicusssion in the Provincial Council into a position more ludicrous than dignified. The public are very naturally e.sking, What section of the Council does our new Executive represent ? The answer is, A very small one, if any. It is "true that the late Executive did not command many votes either ; but the fact of a change which has impeded public business, necessarily draws attention to the absurdity of the sham which we have so long tolerated. The public go on to argue:—lf an Executive is forced upon us, the members of which do not, politically speaking, possess the confidence of the Council, —who have never received any one proof of confidence from that Assembly,—then the principle of the representation of the public voice in the Government is not unrecognised, but absolutely rejected with scorn. We are suffering more than at first sight would appear in tolerating this sham. It stands in the way of better and more practical Government. We understand bjr what right the Superintendent administers laws—by what right the Council makes them. They were in their several capacities elected by the people for a special duty; but these gentlemen who pretend to control His Honor, by what right do they do so ? Did the representatives of the people ever let it be understood that they had chosen them as their leaders ? If they had even a sham might be endured for a time ; but a comedy without any shadow of probability cannot have a long run. These are the arguments heard on all sides, and the}' are not illogical. But this is not the time to criticise only. It is time for the public seriously to consider what form of Executive Government is best adapted to our position. We will consider this subject on a future occasion.