194 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART II
the Assembly in response to a request from the leader of the
Labour party in the House on February 18, 1909.
On 3rd December the Government were beaten in the
Legislative Assembly by a majority of twelve on a direct
vote of no confidence.
The Premier reported this to me next day, and told me that
the Cabinet were unanimous in desiring a dissolution, which
he strongly advised me to give in the interest of the State.
He recognized that, especially on the matter of a proposed
dissolution, the advice of a Premier who had lost the con-
fidence of the House must be received with caution; but
he was prepared to support his views by argument.
Two courses were open to me—to follow the Premier’s
advice and dissolve; or to reject his advice, ask him to
tender his resignation, and endeavour to find a member of
one of the two Houses to form an Administration.
My duty was to take the course which I thought most
likely to meet with the approval of the constituencies.
The Assembly was elected in March, 1907. Its second
session was expected to finish almost at once, and it could,
in any case, only sit through one more session. It was quite
possible, therefore, that it no longer represented the views
of those who elected it.
On the other hand, members even of a comparatively old
Parliament are not likely to declare their want of confidence
in a Ministry without some reason for believing that popular
feeling is with them.
Christmas and harvest time seemed to me a peculiarly un-
suitable season in which to hold a general election ; and there
was much to be said for delay until recent legislation, enlarging
the franchise, could take effect. Ipointed this out to the Pre-
mier; he told me that Ministers knew that dissolution at that
time would be unpopular, and that its unpopularity must do
them harm in the constituencies; they nevertheless asked for
it, which was, he claimed, proof that they had strong grounds
for believing that the electors had full confidence in them.
In any case, I thought the importance of securing a true
representation of the country ought to outweigh any incon-
venience in the time chosen for an election.
The reasons which the Premier gave me for advising
dissolution were three :—
(1) He believed that the Legislative Assembly, if it really
had no confidence in the Government, did not represent the
feelings of the country. He quoted recent by-elections as
convincing indications of public feeling.
