GOVERNORS FROM ABROAD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1942, 27 December 1913, Page 6

GOVERNORS FROM ABROAD.

"Probably a good many people subscribe to the short-sighted view that the representative of his Majesty, in a self-governing Dominion,, is a.purely ornamental functionary. But there is another side to'the'question, and it is cogently, stated in a ilispateh transmitted recently, by. the Secretary of State for the ; . Colonies to the Prime Minister:,of Western Australia (Mn. Scam>kn);m!i reply to a. communication covering-the following resolution passed.by. the State Assembly in the latter part of '. last year:-- ■ ~ ' .?''■"•„■■>

"That this House is'of opinion that the Colonial Olhcc should-'bo petitioned to reconsider the .appointment of. Stats Governor", with-a view to' permittins the duties of tho office to bo performed by a citizen of the Commonwealth."

The Secretary of State-for the Colonics intimated in reply that this request could not be acceded to, and assigned as one reason for his decision that a change in the present system could not by. entertained "unless it is to bo applied to nil.the Australian States, and, fiot-;'.to-fone-alone, and

until public, opinion in Australia is demonstrated" to -be' overwhelmingly I'i-tts favour." 'A much more .important consideration tending to justify tlw attitude taken up by the Colonial Office is stated, ■however, in the concluding paragraph of the dispatch, which roads: — -

■_ "Even nfsiimiiiff that all the Siaicswero in agreement villi the proposal of ynur Premier, (be adoption of a uniform system, miller which his Majesty's choice of Governor would be limited to citizens of the. Commonwealth, would still remain open to the objection pointed out in paragraph t of Lord Crewe's /lispatcli ol October 9. 1903, . . . for 'dlicvappoiiilmont of a Governor would, in Jlhe'■'circuiiisioiit'cs, practically have to be j.'Utde inaccordance with file wishes of ; 2 ihe.Ministry of ■■the day. Jf dees not appear.to. mn.-lliat".his Majesty's choice of Governor, should be limited in the manner ■ .

The contention hero ..presented is one ;that must appeal to all who .wish to sc!e. democratic institutions. and the interests of the people, as ..against those of any political party, efficiently safeguarded. The Governor,'committed though he is, in normal times, to an attitude of non-intervention in political affairs, is the appointed guardian of the people's interests in times of political crisis, The importance of such a safeguard lias been too often demonstrated to need emphasising, but viewed in this light the dignified isolation of the Governor becomes something very much more important than a matter'of mere ceremony. Complete detachment from local interests and party Sympathies is essential to efficiency and impartiality in the important functions which a Governor may at any time, be called upon to exercise. This is fully secured under the' present system, whereas it would almost certainly be sacrificed under a system of local nomination of the King's representative. There- can be no doubt, for instance, that'the interests of the people were better safeguarded in the time of political crisis from which Kcw Zealand' emerged last year, with Lord Islington in the office of Governor, than they could possibly have been if that office had been filled, by a nominee of.the Continuous Ministry.