LORD HOPETOUN'S RESIGNATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 15

LORD HOPETOUN'S RESIGNATION.

MELBOURNE, May 2s. lii the Federal House, in Committee of Supply, Mr M'Millan raised the question of Lord Hopetoun's resignation. He said it came as a shock to the Commonwealth. -Th& Opposition would mak6 every Effort to drag into daylight all-tue secrets of this fiasco. .The Government rushed the Governor-General's Establishment Bill through without making the position clear to the House', and dealt ! with the whole matter iii a' bungling fashion. Lord Hopetoun was sacrificed tnrough the weakness and inefficiency of his Advisers. If the leaders of parties had been consulted with regard to the bill they would not have lost Lord Hope« toun for the reasons now given. M* Deakin, in reply, said Lord Hopetoun expressly desired the Government to state that his resignation was in no way occasioned by anything arising from his relations with his present Advisers. He also wished it to be clearly understood that his action was not taken because of parliamentary action or the debates on the Establishment Bill. Mr Deakin denied that Mr Barton made any.ar-. rangement prior to Lord Hopetoun's arrival with regard to allowances. He defended the Government in reference to not bringing the Establishment Bill forward earlier. Giving -the House a chance to fully discuss more important measures prevented this. The Government would introduce proposals definitely fixing the allowances of future Governors-General. May 29. In the Federal House Mr Deakin said tkat he took it that Lord Hopetoun resigned because he felt that Parliament did lot desire that the office should be othei than a political one, instead of being one of ceremonial in addition, such jis that of the Governors-General of India and Canada. He denied that Mr Chamberlain had interfered in the matter. The despatch in reference to the resignation was withheld so that ifc should not influence the debate on the Establishment Bill. Lord Hopetoun's decision was irrevocable. He declined to consider any alteration of affairs that might be made with a view to retaining his services. A long debate ensued. The Oppositionists condemned the- government on similar lines to those of Sir W. M'Millan. The Ministerialists declared against lavish entertainment, and all parties eulogised Lord Hopetoun, and deplored his departure.