338 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [Part I 
the effect was very great: no doubt the opportunity was 
too good a one for a party attack to be resisted by a veteran 
politician, and Lord Hopetoun had certainly gone beyond the 
boundaries of what was permitted : he was making himself 
into a partisan, and though the generosity of his motive 
was clear and was acknowledged by all, the feeling of the 
House of Representatives was evidently that, though very 
venial, there had been a breach of propriety. On the other 
hand, valedictory speeches may without harm go beyond the 
limits permitted to ordinary speeches, and therefore Lord 
Northcote’s valedictory addresses were generally approved 
in Australia, though they were given as expressions of his 
own views as to the future and the needs and duties of 
Australia. 
Normally, of course, the rule applies in the self-governing 
Colonies no less than at home that the Ministry is responsible 
for all the Governor’s actions, and must either defend them 
or resign and leave the way open for the selection of other 
personswho will accept responsibility. Thus Lord Normanby, 
who had the unhappy knack of being at variance with his 
ministers, found himself censured by the New Zealand House 
of Representatives because he declined to add a member to 
the Legislative Council while a vote of censure against his 
ministers was pending. Ministers declined either to resign 
or to defend the Governor, and he complained bitterly of 
their attitude but without any success, as they remained 
firm in their refusal to act in accordance with his wishes. 
But the rule cannot be pressed too far: if the Governor as 
an Imperial officer desires to act in any matter contrary to 
the wishes of ministers, they cannot be held to be bound 
to defend his actions : they are bound to defend the advice 
they have tendered, but they cannot be held responsible for 
their advice not having been successful, and the Governor 
cannot expect a defence from those whose advice he has 
declined to follow, while, on the other hand, ministers are 
not justified in leaving the post of duty because they cannot 
get all their own way. These principles were laid down as 
! New Zealand Parl. Pap., 1877, A. 1; Gazelte, June 21, 1878.