§ 28 and 29. Mr LYNCHhad on the Notice Paper the following questions to the Secretary for the Colonies: (1) Whether Sir William Ellison Macartney has tendered his resignation as Governor of Tasmania; if not, whether he has requested Sir William Ellison Macartney to resign; and, if not, whether he will do so at the earliest opportunity; and (2) whether he can state on how many occasions, if any, since the foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia a Governor-General or a Governor of any of the States has refused to accept the advice of Ins responsible Ministers; whether his attention has been called to the action of Sir William Ellison Macartney in Tasmania in insisting on a dissolution of Parliament and attaching certain conditions to the constitution of the Cabinet, contrary to the advice of the Prime Minister of Tasmania; whether the Governor consulted the Secretary of State on the subject, and, if so, whether he will place the messages received and sent upon the Table of the House; and whether he has received any messages from the Prime Minister of Tasmania on the subject, and, if so, will he place these communications upon the Table of the House?
I have been asked to postpone these questions. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he could get the information by cable?
Mr. HARCOURTI do not think I could get the information by cable. The Governor has asked the Government to 1089 wait for the whole of the documents, and I think it is only fair to wait until they arrive.
Sir GILBERT PARKERWill the right hon. Gentleman not fortify himself meanwhile with the many precedents which exist for such action as that of the Governor-General of Tasmania?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThese questions have been postponed.
§ Mr. MOOREI wish to put before the right hon. Gentleman a point for consideration before he gives an answer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHe has given no answer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHe has to wait until the mail arrives.