§ MR. WILLIAM ALLEN (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies has advised in regard to New Zealand that the Governor of a Colony is in all eases bound, in appointing to the Upper House, to accept the advice of his Ministers as to all nominations, or What advice or riding in regard thereto has been given or made by the Colonial Office or by the Secretary of State?
§ MR. BUXTONAs regards the particular case referred to, the question in dispute between the Governor of New Zealand and the Colonial Government was whether the, former should appoint only nine instead of 12 Members of the Legislative Council as desired by his Ministers. The question was referred home to the Secretary or State on the joint request of the Ministers and the Governor, and the Secretary of State (after careful consideration of the matter) advised the Governor to comply with the wishes of his Ministers. At the same time, while dealing with this 895 particular case on its merits, the Secretary of State, in his despatch to the Governor of New Zealand, intimated his opinion that the Governor of a Colony enjoying responsible Government should, as a general rule, when imperial interests are not effected, and after full discussion of the matter in question, accept the advice which is tendered and adhered to by his responsible advisers; and that he would not be justified in declining to do so, unless he were satisfied that tile course recommended was not merely in his view erroneous, but such as he had solid ground for believing would not be endorsed by the Legislature, or, in the last resort, by the constituencies.