CHAP. 1] THE GOVERNOR 85
subject to his appointment meeting the approval of persons
at a distance who could have no knowledge of his capacities
for the post. The Government of Queensland put in a
strong reply to the request for information of the grounds
on which the refusal to accept Sir H. Blake was based : they
said that his previous experience, one year in Newfoundland,
was no recommendation : the Governor must be, as well as
an Imperial officer, a person acceptable to the Colonial
Government with which he must work and which paid his
salary. On the other hand, in a discussion in the Victorian
Legislative Assembly on November 16, 1888, the Premier
declared himself opposed to any attempt to secure a voice
in the selection of Governors. The Government of South
Australia, however, on November 21 sent home a telegram
in which they disclaimed the right to appoint a Governor,
but pointed out very effectively the advantages of their
being consulted in advance as to the selection, in which case
they could bring forward any serious objection—and no other
objection would be alleged. They also offered to suggest
a name if the Imperial Government wished. New South
Wales chimed in on November 22 by sending an address
from the Legislative Assembly, in which they asked that no
future Governor should be sent out who had not held high
political office in the United Kingdom, or been in Parliament.
They also added that it would be in accordance with the consti-
tutional privileges of the Colonies if the name of any intended
appointee were communicated to the Colonial Government.
Sir H. Blake solved the question by resigning, but on
July 8, 1889, Lord Knutsford explained to all the Australian
States and New Zealand his views on the matter. After re-
ferring to the protests of the three Colonies he proceeded :—
Of the remaining Australasian Colonies under Responsible
Government, Victoria has declared strongly against any
communications with the Colonial Ministers in regard to the
selection of the Governor, and the Governments of New
Zealand and Tasmania have made no representation on the
subject to Her Majesty’s Government. I may add that
t Parl. Pap., C. 5828, p. 20.
