1006 ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION [PART V 
was by no means clear, and he deprecated the disadvantages 
of such a strong step as a dissolution of the Legislature for 
the purpose of carrying out what was really an Imperial 
policy. The Secretary of State acquiesced in his view, and 
agreed that it was not desirable to attempt to bring about 
a change of feeling by a dissolution of the Lower House.} 
But in that case it appears that the Ministry was assumed 
by Lord Carnarvon to be in favour of a dissolution in the 
circumstances, and that he did not necessarily contemplate 
80 strong a step as a dissolution in the face of the Ministry. 
It is clear, however, that the Governor 2 thought that this 
was meant, for he referred to the idea as being ‘ an attempt 
to turn out a Ministry supported by a large and increasing 
majority for the purpose of dissolving Parliament on a 
question of Imperial policy °. 
Still, Sir Bartle Frere’s action remains as a precedent, but 
a risky one, and the circumstances were so peculiar that 
there is no special likelihood of their recurring. Still, 
obviously in the case of deadlock between the Dominion 
and Imperial Governments it might be necessary to try an 
appeal to the people before the Imperial Government made 
ap its mind to yield, or in the alternative to insist at all costs 
on getting its way. If such an appeal took place, it must 
be remembered that there would be a good deal of responsi- 
bility on those who resisted so extreme an expression of 
[Imperial interest. 
Fortunately all these risks of conflicts become less and less 
when time goes on, and the Dominions become greater and 
greater : the Ministry of Natal might resign when it was in 
a difficulty with the Imperial Government : it js hardly to 
be thought that a statesman in a great Dominion would have 
recourse to any such action in case of a difficulty with the 
home Government. He would no doubt review the whole 
situation, reject in his own case what seemed to him perhaps 
to go beyond what was essential, and then address the home 
Government with the assurance that he would find a suitable 
* Parl, Pap., C. 1399, p. 53. 
* See also Molteno, Sir John Molteno, ii, 40 seq.