CHAP. IV] THE GOVERNOR AS HEAD 215 
present time would not only tend to embarrass the probable 
successor of this Government, but to increase the risk of 
friction between the two chambers of the Legislature. 
In the case of Judges, I will only add that, bearing in 
mind the ordinary length of their tenure of office and also 
the long political predominance of one political party in 
the Dominion Parliament, the current deduction as to the 
somplexion of the political opinions represented upon the 
Bench, whether baseless or well founded, is not unnatural. 
As to the remaining recommendations which are before me, 
and generally as to other business of a similar nature, all 
seem to me to be subject to the same governing consideration. 
Whatever business can wait without detriment to the public 
interest, may properly do so. 
There is a recommendation of a refund of money which 
requires the sanction of Parliament. Such recommendations 
will have to be placed before Parliament by the Ministers 
of the day; and you may perhaps consider that they may 
be left to be dealt with by these Ministers. 
In Mr. Payne’s case my special concern is indicated in the 
latter part of the Memorandum of the Governor Generals 
Secretary of the 10th June where the question is asked 
whether this appointment is in accordance with the Statutes 
and Regulations which govern such cases, i.e. whether it 
infringes upon an existing law, under which circumstances, 
it, with any other cases of a similar kind if there be any such, 
zannot properly receive sanction. 
{ mention another case, viz. the recommendation of an 
officer to the post of Assistant Superintendent of the Cartridge 
Factory at Quebec. This position has been vacant for two 
years. It seems, therefore, desirable to reserve it, with any 
othersimilarrecommendations as to vacancies of long duration 
for the consideration of the incoming Government, unless this 
nourse can be shown to be detrimental to the public interest. 
One other matter remains to which you asked my attention 
yesterday, and which it may be convenient that I should 
mention here. I refer to your remarks on the Memoranda 
which I have from time to time forwarded for the considera- 
tion of Council. I have carefully considered these remarks, 
and my conclusions and observations are as follows :— 
On referring to the books of the Governor General’s office 
I find that the Memoranda sent by my predecessors are 
similar in form to those which I have caused to be sent. As 
to the recording of such communications, this has evidently 
been done in the past. Mv own experience certainly makes me