cuar. vi] GOVERNOR AS IMPERIAL OFFICER 299
the case—the reasoned pronouncement of the Privy Council
of the Dominion of Canada in a report which it rendered
as to the Government of Canada, where they expressly allude
to these acts as being cases in which the Governor-General
would ask the advice of ministers! Moreover, in a case
arising out of the Pacific Islanders Protection Acts the
Governor of New Zealand and the Secretary of State were
both agreed that the action of the Governor in the matter
should be in harmony with the views of ministers and
through their agency ? and the Governor of Victoria in 1908
refused on ministerial advice a request for a licence to recruit.®
In some cases the Governor is also invested with powers
over other matters deliberately, in order to preserve harmony
of action between his Ministry and some dependency. The
classical case is that of the Governor of the Cape, who from
1878 to 1900 was High Commissioner for South Africa,
until the Boer War transferred the centre of gravity to the
Transvaal, and Lord Milner as Governor of the Transvaal
and the Orange River Colony became High Commissioner
for South Africa. After the grant of responsible government
to the Orange River Colony the Governor of the Transvaal
was High Commissioner. The High Commissionership is
now, since 1910, associated with the Governor-Generalship
of the Union of South Africa. As High Commissioner the
Governor-General controls the Protectorates of Bechuana-
land 4 and Swaziland ® and the Colony of Basutoland,® and
is charged with the conduct of Colonial relations with foreign
possessions in South Africa. There was from 1879 to 1881 a
L Parl. Pap., H. C. 194, 1890, p. 8. For an early case of action without
advice, cf. Hansard, Ser. 3, cclxxvi, 1902, 1946.
: New Zealand Parl. Pap., 1891, A. 1, p. 7.
* So in minor matters (e. g. leases of Western Pacific islands, &c.) Gover-
pors receive ministerial help and advice, though, strictly speaking, these
matters are not within the sphere of ministerial activity.
* Created in 1885, organized in 1891 under Order in Council, May 9.
© Formerly a quasi-protectorate of the South African Republic; attached
to High Commissioner by Order in Council, December 1, 1906.
« Annexed in 1868, and attached to Cape by Act No. 12 of 1871; dis-
annexed by Act No. 34 of 1883.
