224 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART II 
Ministry had a strong hold on the Government for some time 
after. In 1856, however, there occurred a striking case of 
dismissal in New Brunswick, where the Legislature had 
passed a quite unworkable liquor prohibition law, and the 
Lieutenant-Governor was anxious that the Government 
should dissolve and get a clear expression of public opinion 
on the topic of liquor legislation. The Lieutenant-Governor 
declared that he would not dream of dissolving without the 
consent of the Executive Council, and therefore demanded 
that they should consent or resign. They were unwilling 
to do either, but eventually resigned after the Provincial 
Secretary had actually issued the proclamation dissolving 
the Assembly : the action of the Lieutenant-Governor was 
upheld by the result, for the obnoxious Act was repealed by 
a majority of thirty-eight votes to two in the Assembly, and 
both Houses expressed satisfaction with the Lieutenant- 
Governor’s action and its results! In 1859, according to 
Sir W. Denison, he induced his ministers in New South Wales 
to abstain from pressing an illegal measure, but he had 
resolved to dismiss them if they persisted in their course of 
action.? In 1861 the Governor of Newfoundland dismissed 
a Ministry, being dissatisfied with the advice tendered to 
him, and granted Mr. Hoyles, the leader of the Opposition, 
a dissolution, though the Assembly passed on March 5, 1861, 
a resolution against the dissolution.? 
The dismissal of his ministers was also a course urged upon 
Lord Dufferin on many sides in 1873. Canada has been 
singularly free as regards the Federal Government from 
cases of refusal of dissolutions, and it has been governed 
without interval by ministers holding by a secure tenure. 
In 1873 the Ministry in office was that of Sir John Macdonald. 
In April 1873, shortly after the general election, there were 
brought against the Ministry charges of having obtained 
t New Brunswick Assembly Journals, 1856, pp. 8, 23; 1857, p. 88; 
Hannay, New Brunswick, ii. 180, 181, 
! Viceregal Life, i. 468. Ci. i. 435. 
3 Newfoundland Houseof Assembly Journals, March 5 and 6, 1861; Toronto 
Mabe, October 3, 1879: Prowse, History of Newfoundland, pp. 488. 489.