$72 PARLIAMENTS OF THE DOMIN IONS [Parr Im 
In 1891 it was held by Mr. Angers’ advisers in Quebec that 
he fulfilled the law when he dissolved at once the Lower 
House of the Legislature so that no business session was 
actually held, and there was a formal meeting only in 1910 in 
Saskatchewan. In several cases Governors have put pressure 
on ministers to meet Parliament early for some reason or 
other, as when in 1879 Lord N. ormanby insisted on Sir G. Grey 
summoning the new Parliament at as early a date as possible, 
as there had been a dissolution and a general election. Again, 
in 1908-9, the leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland 
demanded that the Legislature should meet early, but the 
Governor did not press for a meeting much before the 
normal date. In 1882 the Government of New Zealand 
declined to accelerate the meeting of Parliament at Sir A. 
Gordon’s request. Tn 1909 the Governor of Western Australia 
was credited with being the cause of the brief session of 
Parliament held to vote funds for carrying on the Govern- 
ment, and the cry of Downing Street interference was once 
more raised. But this is a matter in which a Governor may 
fairly say that no Government should be reluctant to meet 
those by whom it has been entrusted with power. 
In the Commonwealth, New Zealand, and some of the States 
the Governor-General or the Governor has the valuable power 
of sending back a Bill for consideration with amendments! 
The power which in the case of New Zealand was in 1854 con- 
sidered by the law officer of the Crown to indicate that the 
Governor was intended to have a discretion in legislation has, 
of course, been used mainly for the purpose of governmental 
correction of unsatisfactory legislation, usually technical 
errors, and for that purpose is quite commonly used in the 
Australian States. The same rule applied to the old Colonies 
in South Africa, but never in Canada or Newfoundland. 
In one respect the Dominions make real use of what is now 
merely a form in England. The practice of conferences in 
case of disagreement between the Houses is now merely 
' Cf. Quick and Garran, Constitution of Commonwealth, pp. 691, 602, It 
appears in 5 & 6 Vict. ¢. 76, s. 30, and in the constitution of Victoria (18&19 
Viet. ¢. 55, 5. 36), and of South Australia (Act No. 2 of 1855-6, 5. 28). Tt is 
law in Tasmania under 5 & 6 Vict, o. 76 and 13 & 14 Viet. e. 59, 5. 12. 
For New Zealand, see 15 & 16 Vict. c, 72, 8. 56,