§ Captain PEELalso asked what were the circumstances which prevented Her Majesty assenting to the Act passed by the Newfoundland Government in 1897 to amend the Election Act, 1889, and the Acts in amendment thereof; whether any protest was made by the Newfoundland Government against the refusal to give Her Majesty's Assent to the Act; whether the Governor acted upon his own responsibility, upon the advice of ministers, or as the result of instructions from the Imperial Government; if upon instructions, were such instructions general or special instructions in respect of this particular measure; whether the law has since been amended; and, if so, in what way were the objections met which prevented the Act receiving Her Majesty's Assent?
Mr. HARCOURTHer Majesty's Assent to the Newfoundland Election Act Amendment Bill of 1897, was withheld on the ground that the measure would enable the political party for the time being in power to employ public funds for the purpose of securing themselves in office. This decision was come to after communication with the Prime Minister of Newfoundland, who was then in England, and it was proposed that the Bill should be brought forward in the next Session in a new shape; this, however was not done, as Sir W. Whiteway's Government were defeated at the General Election. The Governor was instructed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to reserve the Bill, against which a protest was made by the Opposition in the Newfoundland Parliament. The provisions to which exception was taken by His Majesty's Government have not since been re-enacted.