CHAP. 1] THE GOVERNOR 
23 
Canadian system under which the Central Government 
appoints provincial governors, and if the people of Australia 
were to desire to adopt a similar system His Majesty's 
Government would in all probability be disposed to advise 
His Majesty that the necessary steps should be taken to carry 
out their wishes. 
7. So far, I understand there has been no indication that 
the States, whose contention is that they remain sovereign 
States, would desire that their prerogatives should be 
diminished, and the evidence of such sovereignty is in part 
secured by making the appointment of Governor in the same 
manner and on the same terms as prior to federation. 
8. I am sending a copy of this despatch to the other 
State Governors and to the Governor-General. 
This dispatch formed the subject of discussion in the 
Queensland Assembly in 1909, in the Victorian Assembly in 
1910, and in the Assembly of Western Australia, where a mem- 
ber of the Labour party brought forward, on September 7, 
1910, a motion to use Government House as a site for the 
University, with the idea also of terminating the appointment 
of a Governor from home. But it was agreed almost unani- 
mously that the plan was not a desirable one, and the motion 
was rejected, it being felt that if anything were to be done it 
must, as suggested by Lord Crewe, be done by the State 
Governments acting together and approaching the Imperial 
Government. It isindeed clear that the change could only be 
made when the states have decided to abandon in some 
measure at least their independence. There are, moreover, 
obvious objections to the selection of the Chief Justice as 
Governor :1 as head of the Executive he would have to exer- 
cise the prerogative of mercy, and though he would normally 
act on ministerial advice, yet it is clear that it would be 
impossible to treat the matter in anything like so satisfactory 
a manner as at present, when the Executive and the judiciary 
are normally independent. Nor is the force of this objection 
! The Chief Justice also has local ties, and recently the Chief Justice of 
Tasmania was accused of misusing his position as administrator to obtain 
information of pecuniary value, though the charge was declared unfounded 
by the Commissioner who examined into it ; see Hobart Mercury, May 14, 
910.