oHAP. II] CONTROL OVER INTERNAL AFFAIRS 1045 
consulted on a measure of such importance might have 
furnished a reason for its rejection by the Upper Chamber, 
but would scarcely justify the Secretary of State in advising 
its disallowance, even if it were admitted as a general 
principle of constitutional government in Newfoundland 
that the Legislature has no right to entertain any measure 
of first importance without an immediate mandate from the 
zlectors. 
13. Nor is the fact that I have been urged to advise the 
disallowance of the Act by petitions alleged to be signed by 
more than half of the registered electors of the Colony one 
which can be properly considered by Her Majesty’s Govern- 
ment in this connexion. The Act was passed by the Assembly, 
elected so recently as November, 1897, by an enormous 
majority, only five members out of a House of 36 voting 
against it, and in the Legislative Council, as I gather from 
the last paragraph of your dispatch of April 30! it was 
received with practical unanimity, only one member having 
spoken against it, and even he did not carry his opposition 
so far as to record his vote against the measure. 
4. It is not the duty of Her Majesty’s Government to 
attempt the task of deciding whether the action of the Legis- 
lature has been in accord with the opinion of the electorate. 
Even a Governor, who is to some extent in touch with local 
opinion, would be taking a serious step if, in response to 
petitions such as have been addressed to me, and against 
the advice of his Ministers, he refused to assent to a measure 
of local concern which had been duly passed by the Legis- 
lature ; and if he failed to find other Ministers prepared to 
assume responsibility for his action, and able to secure the 
support of the Legislature, his position would become un- 
tenable. Any such step on the part of a Governor would 
have to be taken entirely on his own motion. It is essential 
that for every act of the Governor in local matters full 
responsibility should attach to a Ministry amenable to the 
Colonial Legislature. 
15. In advising Her Majesty as to the exercise of her 
prerogative of disallowance, the Secretary of State has to 
consider the legislation submitted from a still more restricted 
point of view than the Governor. 
16. That prerogative is a safeguard for the protection of 
those interests for which the Secretary of State is responsible 
to Her Majesty and to the Imperial Parliament. To advise 
its exercise in cases where only local interests are concerned 
t Parl, Pap., C. 8867, p. 37.