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 consulted
 the Colonial Secretary as to the advisability of following
 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.