PARTY GOVERNMENT. L67 the matter be not of purely local concern, refer the matter to the Imperial Law Officers™. The British North America Act 1867 is silent both as to Manner the place and manner of giving the Royal assent, except in Solas the case of bills reserved, where it may be given orally, or by sork: message or by proclamation”. The usual course adopted is for the Governor-General to give the Royal assent in the presence of both Houses. 2. DUTIES AS REGARDS PARTY GOVERNMENT. It is the duty of a Governor-General to observe strict Neutral neutrality towards the different parties in the Legislature Dn as in regard to all questions in which neither the prerogatives pasion. of the Crown nor Imperial interests are involved. In all local matters the judgment of the people expressed in their Legislatures must prevail, and a Governor-General ought always to accept and act by the advice of a Ministry prepared to give effect to such judgment. But in all questions involving either Imperial interests or Imperial the prerogatives of the Crown, the Governor-General has to interests. remember that he represents the Crown, and though he is expected to give due weight to the opinion of his ministers, the final decision must be made upon his own judgment and responsibility >. Under special circumstances he may consult Consult- Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, care being ing Home taken that all sides of the controversy be placed before the ment: Imperial Government. In 1874 the Governor-General con- sulted the Colonial Secretary as to the advisability of follow- ing the advice of his ministers where they recommended that six additional senators should be added to the Senate*; and in 1879 at the suggestion of the Privy Council the advice of the Home Government was sought regarding the proposed removal of M Letellier from his office of Lieutenant-Governor® 1 Todd, pp. 134, 135. 2g. 57. 3 See Todd, p. 591 and authorities there quoted. 4 Todd, p. 164. 5 See post, p. 174, Todd, p. 409.