t0 RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT [PART I 
consideration implied that the Governor should take an 
active and independent part in legislation inconsistent with 
the idea of ministerial responsibility. But they also agreed 
that, in the temper of the Legislature, no useful purpose could 
be served unless the Governor could act in accordance with 
the wishes of the leaders of the House, and they accordingly 
suggested that, while the existing officers should retain their 
places on the Council, there should be added three more 
members taken from the House of Representatives who 
would carry on the business of the Government in the 
Assembly, while allowing the existing officers to carry on 
the ordinary duties of their office. This curious arrangement 
was accepted by the leaders of the House of Representatives, 
and not only were three members of that House made Execu- 
tive Councillors, but a fourth member was added to represent 
the Legislative Council, which had entirely disapproved of the 
ignoring of that House in the appointments to the Executive 
Council. For two months the arrangement worked, but then 
the members who had been introduced from the Legislature 
decided that they could not remain members of the Execu- 
tive Council unless given the full authority and responsi- 
bility of executive office. They urged that the House of 
Representatives would not consent to pass the important 
measures before it unless it was assured that the measures 
which it passed would be carried into effect by those in whom 
it had confidence and over whom it possessed control ; they 
declared their willingness to make provision in the shape of 
pensions for the retiring officers, and suggested that the 
principle of responsible government should at once be 
adopted. The Administrator could not see his way to consent 
to this proposal : the Attorney-General and the Treasurer 
were Imperial officers, and he was not willing to relieve them, 
even at their request, of their offices until he had ascertained 
the decision on the subject of the Secretary of State for the 
Colonies. As a result, the four new members of the Executive 
Council resigned, and the Governor sent messages to the 
Council and the House of Representatives dealing with his 
Parl. Pap., H.C. 160, 1855, pp. 1seq, Rusden, New Zealand, i. 543 seq.