The Ashborton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1891. THE ATKINSONIAN CALLS TO THE COUNCIL.
A long-looked-for paper was included in the first batch laid before Parliament after its meeting, namely, the despatch, from the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on th« subject of the appointments to the Legislative Council which were made by the moribund Atkinson Ministry, It has always been a puzzle how His Excellency was able to opprove those appointments in face of the general disapproval with which they were regarded and the district pledge which Sir H. Atkinson had made notjto make any fresh appointments. His Excellency was in difficulty in the matter. In his despatch he says:—'There were four points which presented themsslves in considering the advice tendered to me. (1). Whether Ministers were seeking to fill the TJpper House during their term of office with moi-e than a reasonable number of their nominees ; (2) whether there was any indication that their object was to alter the political bias of the House in favor of their party ; (3) whether the names were those of men unfit to occupy seats in the Council j and (4) whether Ministers whose position in Parliament was doubtful, were entitled to recommend, such appointments." As to the first and third points, His Excellency formed the opinion that had Ministers been in undoubted possession of the confidence of Parliament, no objection except from a purely party point of view was likely to have been taken. The allegation that the Premier had given certain pledges was a matter which concerned himself. On the second question His Excellency concluded that the majority of the Council were in sympathy with the party then in power, except on the question of Council reform, of which the new Councillors were in favor. The fourth question was the really important one. His Excellency says that he recognised the grave responsibility of differing from his advisers. "Such a step is certain to bring the representative of the Queen into collision with some portion of those over whom he is called upon to administer the Government, and renders his conduct open to discussion in Parliament." His Excellency, in short, indicated his aversion to complying with the recommendations of the Premier, but could not see anything sufficiently unconstitutional in them to Man ant his withholding his approval. His Excellency goes on to ienark:— I should be warning in candour were I to lead your Lordship to suppose that either the majority of the House of Representatives,' the whole of ;the party which supported the late Government, or all Legislative Coun'cillors, approve the conduct of the late Ministry in tendering me this advice. I do not think it is seriously maintained, in the face of the constant practice in England for defeated Ministries to advise Her Majesty to create peers, tjhat there has been anything unconstitutional in my action ; but so far as I can gather, there is a strong' feeling that in the colony the practice which obtains in England of making Ministerial appointments before vacat-' ing office is not one which New Zealand should be encouraged to follow. If I have interpreted that feeling aright, public opinion will be strong enough to prevent its recurrence in colonies possessed of such democratic institutions as manhood suffrage and IrieDnial Pai'liaments, in addition to a numerous and universally read press, public ©pinion is not slow to assert itself, or to execute summary punishment on the Ministry or patty which has acted contrary to its wishes. The unexpected support which the new Ministry have received in the recent i^horfc session of Parliament, and the (iisGonteni »f many of the supporters of the late Government is a sufficient intimation to the leaders of the party lately ill power of the state of public opinion on this matter, and ought to prevent any serious evil to the colony arising o\it of the event considered in the light of a precedent, while at the same time the resignation of Ministers because their advice had not been incepted—a step which in my opinion only the most imperative necessity can justify—has been avoided, His Excellency asked for Lord Knutsford's opinion regarding his action In tlis matter, and the reply conveys an erttx stranger Implied censure than thit contained in His Excellency's l-e----marks, upon Sir H. Atkinson's conduct in making the recommendations. "I am of opinion that in accepting the adtice tendered to you by your Lordships responsible Ministers, under the circumstances described in your despatches, you acted strictly jn accordancj with the constitution of the eolmy, but I do not desire to be understood to offer any opinion upon the actiin of your Ministers in tendering that advice." This note Is defective in one respect, that it does not state that to have declined to act upon the advise of the Ministry would have been unconstitutional—as was contended herei. It nny, however, be safely assumed that no Ministry will be bold enoujjh to cite the fcasfl M a precedent in favour of similar action in f\rfcurs. His Excellency and the ,%pretary of Stateevidently agree with the country that the appointments were an extrem<ly discreditable piece of business.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2407, 15 June 1891, Page 2
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866The Ashborton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1891. THE ATKINSONIAN CALLS TO THE COUNCIL. Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2407, 15 June 1891, Page 2
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