THE LAST CALLS TO THE COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5169, 16 June 1891, Page 4

THE LAST CALLS TO THE COUNCIL.

.■■! - ■!>:.; ill.- fl ; Bjiiti;lißo pre?onteil lev V'arIc.iii- -*it >vi ; ri -i.iy wai ono by Hie Oovornor • di-nlinjj wilh t!n> peiition presented to him litft. Juii'in:} flora forty oi.imbpra of tho j Hoiue who |»r r jtcifod ngnine' (he ''calla " then j aliou' to hn mado by Olie Atkinson Ministry,!His Excellency bits : " There wero four pom's which proacntod Ibetnselvfs m onri-ti eidering tho advice tondoreil to mo — (t) j Whether Ministers were oroking to filliiiol opper Hones during their term of ollico w.t.ii more thau « reasonable numbur of their nouiinoos j (8) whether there was any indioa- 1 lion that their obj-ct wos to altoc the political bfss of the House m favonr of their party ; (3) whether tho names wero thoso of men unfit to occupy seats m the Council ; and' *(4) whether Ministers whoa 9 position iv Parliamont naa doubtful wers entitled to reoommeud auoh appointments. As to the fir^t and third points, I formed tho opinion that had Mioiaters bean io. \in doubted possession of the oonfidance of Parliament, no objection except frofli H purely patty point of view was likely to have been taker. It ia true that the Premier was alleged to have given certain pledges, but this was a mutter which concerned himself. A« to the seoond point : During tho previous eeeaion of Parliament several measures drawn m the interests of the labour Party had been rejrctccl by tho Upper House as theD constituted, and bo far as the opinions of its members have a party tendency they were already more m lins with the party then m power than with tho progressive party ; while es to the qnettiori of the reform of the liogislfctiYe Council, which that body had refused to consider, but which both political parties deemed desirable, the new councillors wero themselves pledged m its favour. The fourth consideration is the really important one. Assuming as Ido that there was no valid objection to the appointments, I found it additionally difficult for me to take the very grave responsibility of differing from my Adviser*. Such a step is certain to bring the representative of the Quoen into collision with iom« portion of those over whom he is called upon to administer the government, and render his oonduct open to discussion m Parliament. 'Ilia gravest responsibility Would rat upon me for the adoption of such ft coutse m a e«s» aoacerning this colony^slono, whioh neither aff*oted the Boyal prerogative of mfcic? nor tho question of appeal to the people, and was m consonance with accepted constitutional practice," His Excellency then recounts the making of ihe appointments, and proceeds to observe :— "I should ta Ttanling m c*ndor wero 1 to lead your Lordship to suppose that either the aiajority of the House of BepreseTitatives, the whole of the party which supported the late Government, or All Legislative Councillors, approve the oonduct of tho late Ministry m tendering mo this advics. I do not think it is ferioucly mainlined m the face of tho constant prectico m England for defeated Sinietries to Gdvho Her Majesty to cTeate peers, that tbers baa been anything • unconstitutional m uiy action. But", so far I* IJcan gather, there is a strong feeling th»t m the eoloey th« practice which obtains m England of making Ministerial appointments before vacating office is not one which IlewZesland Ministers should be encouraged to follow. If 1 have interpreted that feeling aright, public opiniou will be strong enough to prevent its recurrence m colonies possessed of ouch democratic institutions 89 manhood suffrage and triennial Parliaments, m addition to. a numerous and universally read press. Public opinion is not slow to .aiaert itself or to execute summary punishment on the Ministry or party which lins acteH contrary to ils wishes. The unexpected Eupport which the new Ministry have received m the recent short session of Parliament and the discontent of many of the supporters of the late Government h a sufficient intimation to the leaders of the party lutely m power of the state of public opinion on this matter, and oUsht to prevent any serious evil to the colony arising out of the event being considered m the li^ht of a precedent, while at the same time the reaignatijns of Ministers because their advice had not been oecepted — a step, which, m my opinion, only the most imperative necessity can justify — has been avoided, I need hardly a.d th&t any expression of opinion from Your Lordship will greatly «id me m the course which I should adopt m future, and will ba valued m the colony as an indication of the 6Uitude uhicn Her Msj'sty's Government .desires the representative of the Queen to assume towards his Advisers and towards the people of theso large and growing communitie», who dre m full possession of the power to choose with whom they will entrust the Government." iiord Knatsford acknowledge* the despatch, and lays : — " lam of opinion that m accepting the adiice tendered to you by your Lordship's responsible Ministers, under the circumstances described m your despatches, you acted strictly m accordance with' the Constitution of the colony j but I do not desire to be understood to offer any opinion upon the action of your Ministers m tendering that advice."