Responsible government in the Dominions: Responsible government in the Dominions

Responsible government in the Dominions (Vol. 1)

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Multivolume work

Identifikator:: 1896933912

Document type:: Multivolume work

Author:: Keith, Arthur Berriedale http://d-nb.info/gnd/119086794

Title:: Responsible government in the Dominions

Place of publication:: Oxford

Publisher:: Clarendon Press

Year of publication:: 1912-

Collection:: Economics Books

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Volume

Identifikator:: 1896934455

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-236504

Document type:: Volume

Author:: Keith, Arthur Berriedale http://d-nb.info/gnd/119086794

Title:: Responsible government in the Dominions

Volume count:: Vol. 1

Place of publication:: Oxford

Publisher:: Clarendon Pr.

Year of publication:: 1912

Scope:: LI, 568 Seiten

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Part II. The executive Government

Collection:: Economics Books

cHAP. v] THE GOVERNOR AND THE LAW 247 be expected to disappear for a long time. Recent instances of such happenings are afforded by the large sum expended by Mr. Philp’s Government in 1907-8, when the House had refused all supply, and had urged the Governor of Queensland not to dissolve the House as requested by the Ministry : in that case the opposition was extremely indig- nant, and there were many threats of what would happen in the country when they came back to office? indeed, that feeling was strong is shown by the fact that the money in question was ultimately voted in so indirect a manner that the Labour party, whichwould have resisted energetically its appropriation, was caught unaware and let the Bill through at the end of the session, when every one was thinking of getting away and vigilance was relaxed. In the case of the dissolution in 1908 in Victoria the Governor was assured that supply was available, but that was not true, and in that instance a most gross violation of law took place, because the Premier, who was also. Treasurer, spent large sums (over £180,000) not merely with only the consent of the Governor, which would have been at any rate, if undesirable, a not rare occurrence in the case of Australia, but without the sanction of a Governor’s warrant, in the face of the constitu- tion and in face of the Audit Acts? None the less, though a committee was appointed by the new Government to investigate the case, it did not appear that Sir Thomas Bent had been much of a sinner compared with the long tradition of financial irregularity in the case of Victoria. In Tasmania, again, a very vigilant and careful Governor found it necessary without legal appropriation to approve the issue of certain sums of money to the judges, who were ! The Government of Mr. Kidston, which took office on Mr. Philp’s resignation, in face of the result of the general elections refused even to pay wages until a Supply Bill had been passed. Similar tactics were employed in 1908 by the Dominion Government to meet obstruction of supply in Canada ; see Canadian Annual Review, 1908, p. 53. ' Victoria Parliamentary Debates, 1909, pp. 9 seq., 330-3; Parl. Pap, 1909, Sess. 2, No. 1. It should be noted that in most of the Dominions there are now provisions in the Audit or other Acts allowing in certain cir- cumstances special expenditure (e.g. Canada Rev. Stat., 1906, c. 24. s. 42), but these provisions are constantly being exceeded.

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