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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Chapter

Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Part II. The executive Government

Collection:: Economics Books

cHAP. vi] GOVERNOR AS IMPERIAL OFFICER 291 from Lord Carnarvon, dealing with the then usual division of responsibility in the exercise of the prerogative of mercy between the Governor and the Ministry : ‘ If it be the right and duty of the Governor to act in any case contrary to the advice of his ministers, they cannot be held responsible for his action, and should not feel themselves justified on account of it in retiring from the administration of public affairs.’ This position was adopted in full by the Ballance Government in New Zealand in 1892, when they were involved in a dis- pute with the Governor as to the addition of members to the Legislative Council, and when he refused to add the number asked for, being under the impression that it was his duty as an Imperial officer to maintain the constitutional balance of the Houses contrary to ministerial advice, a view which it is fair to say it was quite natural, if erroneous, for the Governor to take on the papers before him. He therefore declined to appoint the twelve members they asked for to redress the balance of debating power in the Upper House, not to swamp it, and offered nine, a concession which they refused to accept. They would not, however, resign their offices de- spite the refusal, as the Governor wanted them to do, so that the matter might have been decided by a reference to the constituencies, but referred home to the Secretary of State, who in a dispatch of September 26, 1892, the anniversary of which is now made the Dominion Day of the Dominion, practically told the Governor to accept ministerial advice wherever the interests of the Imperial Government were not concerned.! In the case of Natal in 1906 a serious difference of procedure occurred.? On March 28, 1906, the Governor telegraphed that a court martial had ordered the execution of twelve natives out of twenty-four for the murder of certain police officers. The proceedings of the Court had been care- fully reviewed by the Governor in Council, and being in order and no injustice committed, he had accepted the unanimous advice of his ministers to carry the sentence into effect. In a reply by telegraph on March 28, the Secretary ! Parl. Pap., H. C. 198, 1893-4, p. 48. * Ibid., Cd. 2905. U2

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