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

194 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART II the Assembly in response to a request from the leader of the Labour party in the House on February 18, 1909. On 3rd December the Government were beaten in the Legislative Assembly by a majority of twelve on a direct vote of no confidence. The Premier reported this to me next day, and told me that the Cabinet were unanimous in desiring a dissolution, which he strongly advised me to give in the interest of the State. He recognized that, especially on the matter of a proposed dissolution, the advice of a Premier who had lost the con- fidence of the House must be received with caution; but he was prepared to support his views by argument. Two courses were open to me—to follow the Premier’s advice and dissolve; or to reject his advice, ask him to tender his resignation, and endeavour to find a member of one of the two Houses to form an Administration. My duty was to take the course which I thought most likely to meet with the approval of the constituencies. The Assembly was elected in March, 1907. Its second session was expected to finish almost at once, and it could, in any case, only sit through one more session. It was quite possible, therefore, that it no longer represented the views of those who elected it. On the other hand, members even of a comparatively old Parliament are not likely to declare their want of confidence in a Ministry without some reason for believing that popular feeling is with them. Christmas and harvest time seemed to me a peculiarly un- suitable season in which to hold a general election ; and there was much to be said for delay until recent legislation, enlarging the franchise, could take effect. Ipointed this out to the Pre- mier; he told me that Ministers knew that dissolution at that time would be unpopular, and that its unpopularity must do them harm in the constituencies; they nevertheless asked for it, which was, he claimed, proof that they had strong grounds for believing that the electors had full confidence in them. In any case, I thought the importance of securing a true representation of the country ought to outweigh any incon- venience in the time chosen for an election. The reasons which the Premier gave me for advising dissolution were three :— (1) He believed that the Legislative Assembly, if it really had no confidence in the Government, did not represent the feelings of the country. He quoted recent by-elections as convincing indications of public feeling.

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