RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 152, 1 February 1845, Page 189

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

[From the Colonial Gazette, October 12.]

There is a society, ycleped the " Aborigines Protection Society," consisting of a very amiable and philanthropic secretary, and about half-a-dozen gentlemen of whom no harm is known — nor indeed anything. So often as the secretary can catch a quorum of his associates in his back parlour in Lower Brook Street, a meeting is held for despatch of business, and called a committee meeting. By dint of incessant begging, the society contrives to raise as much money annually as pays for printing occasionally three or four octavo pages of a report. This description, which is true as a daguerreotype, is not calculated to raise very high expectations of the society's importance; and yet, among other anomalies of the British constitution, we find that to this insignificant and self-constituted association Lord Stanley has delegated the revision and control of the colonial policy of the empire. Out of "mere love and affection " for "responsible government," his lordship has made himself responsible to this conclave. Of this fact no doubt can be entertained after perusing the following extract from the minute of the meeting of the 21st August last, at which were present the unprecedented number of five members and two visitors— one of the visitors being a gentleman of whom we find it recorded that " Benjamin Stones having expressed his willingness to collect subscriptions, the committee have empowered him to do so." But to our business : — . , " A copy of a despatch from J. Hutt, G©^ vernor of Western Australia, sent to Lord Stan* ley, in reply to charges made by Nevin Clark, having been sent to the committee by Lord Stanley, the secretary is desired to acknowledge the receipt, and to state that it would be forwarded to Nevin Clark: The secretary is desired at the same time to inquire whether any reply has been received from the Cape of Good Hope regarding the subject of the minute on the memorial of the South African Missionary Society." Who will call Lord Stanley a proud man after this? The half-dozen gentlemen composing the Aborigines Protection Society hsve only to intimate to his lordship, from their 'secretary's back parlour, that a complaint has been lodged with them against one of his lordship's Qo' vernors, and his lordship immediately directs the culprit to put in defences, which are forwarded without delay to the tribunal in Lower Brook Street. The intimation forwarded .to Lord Stanley, that the reply has been communicated to the accuser, is accompanied by a broad hint that his lordship Appears to have been: guilty of negligence in not sooner paying attention to "the minute on the tnemoriaTof the South African Missionary Society." With what awe must Governor Hutt await the decision of a tribunal which treats even Lord Stanley to cavalierly I The authority of the society intbe badepac* lour in Lower Brook Street extend* <mr .\jbf

whole pf the colonies. At the meeting .which received the 1 defence of Governor Hutt, a respectful intimation was received from W. Aldata, juni6r, M.P., that, with the concurrence of "Lord Stanley, he had moved for the printing of flic reports of the Protectors of the Aborigines ; and a sub-committee was appointed to examine the report of the New Zealand Committee, and act as the emergency might require; and " H. Hudson, secretary to the LieutenantGovernor, who is recently returned from the Cape," reported on the condition of the Fingoes, near Port Elisabeth, and the Hottentots of the Cat River. Sir Robert Peel laughed at the three tailors of Tooley Street, but Lord Stanley bows with awe and reverence to the six tailors of Lower Brook Street. If the settlers in a colony complain of their Governor, they are reprimanded. If a member of Parliament asks about the management of a colony, he is flippantly given to understand that he is meddling with matters beyond his reach. But if the amiable Dr. Hodgkin, with his five or six toad-eaters for the time being, but hint disapprobation, explanations and apologies are sought out and offered with palpitating eagerness. No wonder our colonies are so well governed when Governors are kept in order by the Colonial Office, and the Colonial Office by the sages in Dr. Hodgkin's back parlour assembled. This is indeed " responsible government!"