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

254 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART II contrast the opinions on the subject expressed by the Dukes of Newcastle and Buckingham and Chandos and Sir W. Denison and Sir G. Grey. I also add an extract from Todd’s work on Parliamentary Government tn England, viz. — It is therefore erroneous to suppose that the Government can be absolutely prevented from any misapplication of the parliamentary grants. ven were it possible to do so it would not be politic te restrain the Govern- ment from expending money under any circumstances without the previous authority of Parliament. In the words of Mr. Macaulay (Secretary to the Board of Audit) cases must constantly arise in so complicated a system of government as ours where it becomes the duty of the Executive authorities, in the exercise of their discretionary powers, boldly to set aside the require- ments of the Legislature, trusting to the good sense of Parliament when all the facts of the case shall have been explained to acquit them of all blame ; and it would be not a public advantage, but a public calamity, if the Government were to be deprived of the means of so exercising their discretionary authority.’ To the same effect we have a declaration by a Committee of the House of Commons, that in special emergencies expenditure unauthorised by Parliament becomes absolutely essential. In all such cases the Executive must take the responsibility of sanctioning whatever immediate urgency requires ; and it has never been found that Parliament exhibited any reluctance to supply the means of meeting such expenditure. Under these circumstances I advise my colleagues to join with me in an expression of opinion against the instructions lately issued by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to his Excellency the Governor as amounting to an interference in matters of local government with our responsibility as ministers of the Crown, and representatives of the Parliament and the people of this Colony, upon a question entirely unconnected with Imperial interests. Lord Granville replied to this minute in a dispatch of January 17, 1870,! as follows :— In my Despatch of the 16th of June I conveyed to you my opinion that, except in case of absolute and immediate necessity (such, e. g., as the preservation of life), no expendi- bure of public money should be incurred without sanction of law, unless it could be presumed not only that both branches of the Legislature would hold the expenditure itself unobjectionable, but also that they would approve of that expenditure being made in anticipation of their consent ; ¥ Parl. Pap., C. 2173, p. 124.

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