DISSOLUTION. 
21 
9. DISSOLUTION. 
The Parliament may be dissolved by the Governor-General gs 
at any time’, and though the Governor-General is expected to rogative 
pay the greatest attention to the advice of his ministers, yet Fs. 
he is not bound to grant a dissolution whenever and as often 
as they demand it. The dissolution of Parliament is a pre- 
rogative right and the Governor-General, as representing the 
Crown, is required to act on his own responsibility * 
The following examples illustrate the above principle. 
Sir Edmund Stead, Governor-General of Canada, refused to 
dissolve Parliament in 1858, on the grounds that a general 
election had been held the previous winter, that important 
business remained to be finished, and that there was no 
reasonable probability that the verdict of the previous 
election would be reversed®. 
Lord Mulgrave, Governor of Nova Scotia, refused a 
dissolution in 1860, on the ground that it was neither 
expedient, nor for the public interest, that a dissolution 
should take place a short time after a general election *. 
When in May, 1872, the Legislative Assembly of Victoria 
passed a vote of want of confidence in the administration, the 
ministry informed the Governor that they were bound either 
to resign or to recommend a dissolution, and they accordingly 
advised a dissolution. The Governor declined to dissolve, as 
he believed a ministry could be formed without having re- 
course to a dissolution ®. 
In the last-mentioned case the ministers maintained that Position of 
the alternative of resignation or dissolution is left absolutely Ministers 
to their discretion and responsibility. The Governor dis- 
sented from this proposition, maintaining that as a colunial 
Governor, it was his duty to exercise a due discretion. Lord 
Mulgrave in explaining his conduct in the case referred to 
1 B. N. A. Act, s. 50. 2 See post, chap. xv. 
} See Todd, p. 529. 4 Ib. p. 537. 5 Ib. p. 539.