204 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART II 
that there is any important political question upon which 
contending parties are directly at issue. 
Existing difficulties may be disposed of without recourse 
bo extreme remedies. 
In considering the question of dissolution, the Acting 
Governor desires to pay the greatest attention to any repre- 
sentations that have been made to him by his constitutional 
advisers, but it is his duty to consider the question solely 
in reference to the general interests of the people, and not 
from a party standpoint. If he believes that a strong and 
efficient Administration can be formed that would command 
the confidence of the existing Assembly, and be able to carry 
on the public business, he ought not to resort to the ‘ extreme 
medicine ’ of the Constitution. 
The present House of Assembly was elected only fifteen 
months ago. The law provides that a general election shall 
take place every three years, and it does not appear to the 
Acting Governor to be desirable that this period should be 
shortened without reasons of great gravity. A general 
election at the present time would not be beneficial to the 
public interest, for it would delay the consideration of 
the financial condition of the country, which apparently is 
50 serious as to demand immediate attention, and it would 
prolong a period of political unrest which has become 
distasteful to the people. 
The Acting Governor does not, upon a review of the 
position, consider that there is any sufficient ground for the 
dissolution of a comparatively young House of Assembly, at 
a time when the financial position of the State is suffering 
by the delay in passing necessary measures, and when it is 
reasonably probable that the present Parliament could 
furnish an Administration able to carry on the business of the 
sountry ; and, also, the Acting Governor is not aware of any 
reason why an Administration possessing the confidence of 
the House of Assembly, and having supplies, should not 
proceed with the public business in the ordinary way. 
In Tasmania again, in 1909, the new Governor, Sir Harry 
Barron, was confronted by a difficult position. When the 
ministers met the House of Assembly on October 21, the 
leader of the Opposition, Sir Elliott Lewis, gave notice of 
a motion of want of confidence. The House then adjourned 
fo the next day, when after a debate which lasted till mid- 
aight, the Ministry was defeated by a majority of six, the