The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1888. THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNORSHIP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1998, 16 November 1888, Page 2

The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1888. THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNORSHIP.

The stand taken up by fir Thomas M'llwraith m connection with the appointment by the Colonial office of a successor to tho late Sir Anthony Musgrave was at first greatly misunderstood, and m some quarters he has come m for a good deal of unmerited reprobation as a consequence of that misunderstanding. His hostile criticß Jjave for the moßt part been colonial writers, who upon imperfect information assumed that the Queensland Minister had made the demand that the appointment of a Governor should be only made by the Home Government, acting m consultation with the Ministers of the colony to which he is appointed, m a word that the responsibilities of Downing Street and the prerogatives of the Crown should be shared with Colonial Ministers and exercised conjointly. Such a demand would have been practically equivalent to asking a right of veto for the latter, and would be subversive of all constitutional precedent. It is, however, quite unnecessary to enter into elaborate disquisitions upon constitutional law, und labored speculations as to possible consequences, inasmuch as it turns out that Sir Ihomas M'llwraith never made any such proposal. All that he did — we now have it upon his own authority — was to represent that before final appointment the name of the intended appointee should be communicated totho Colonial Cabinet m order that any objection entertained may be represented to Her Majesty's Government. This is a very different thing, and we think a very sensible and proper proposal. Surely those who have to pay the salary of the Governor have a right to make a respectful representation to tho Crown, if the selection made happen to be one which they deem unsuitable, of their views upon the subject and of their reasons for holding those views, and surely it would be better to receive and consider such representations, and if found \ reasonable to yield to them, rather than to risk the weakening of the bond of loyalty to the Empire which must bo the conse quence of a distasteful appointment. That is the opinion taken of the question by an overwhelming majority of English newspapers and politicians, and the out come of the stand taken by Queensland's Premier promises to be tbe adoption of the principle for which be contends as a rule of practice m connection with the appointment of future Governors of the colonies,