[66 THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. 
provisions to which the Royal consent had once been refused, 
unless the bill contained a suspending clause, or unless some 
argent necessity existed and the bill was not contrary to 
the law of England or to treaty stipulations’. Between 1867 
and 1878 twenty-one bills, eleven of these relating to divorce, 
were reserved’; but since the last-mentioned year the Royal 
Instructions have not required any bill to be reserved, on the 
ground that it was “undesirable that they should contain 
anything which would be interpreted as limiting or defining 
the legislative powers conferred in 1867 on the Dominion 
Parliament®,” and that the reserved power of disallowance 
possessed by Her Majesty in Council* was sufficient for the 
protection of Imperial interests. 
The Governor-General may, however, under the section 
above quoted reserve a bill for the signification of the 
Queen’s pleasure, in which case it does not become law 
antil the Governor-General signifies by speech or message to 
sach of the Houses of Parliament, or by proclamation, that 
it has received the assent of the Queen in Council? 
Not bound ~~ In exercising his discretionary powers in regard to 
by Slow legislation a Governor-General has to act on his own 
ministers. yesponsibility, and is not bound to follow the advice of his 
ministers, though he usually takes this course’. The assent 
of the Governor is not conclusive, as a bill, even if assented 
to by him, may be disallowed by the Crown”. 
But the Governor before assenting ought to satisfy himself 
that the bill is within the class of subjects over which 
the Dominion Parliament has legislative power. 
It is usual for him to receive from the Minister of Justice 
or from the Law Officers of the Crown in the Colony a 
ceport on bills submitted for his assent, and he may, if 
Bills re- 
served. 
t Sess. J. (1873), 74; Sess. Pap. 1867—8. No 22: Burinot. p. 569. 
? Burinot, p. 570. 
3 Despatch of Secretary for Colonies, Can. 8. Pap. 1877, No. 13; Ib. 1880, 
No. 51, 4 See ante, p. 163. 5 B. N. A. Act. 8. 57. 
8 Todd. p. 137. 7 See most, ¢. XI.