The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOV. 22, 1888. Colonial Governors

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 62, 22 November 1888, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOV. 22, 1888. Colonial Governors

Although wo do not agree with tb« manuer, in which Sir Thomas McllWbaith started the discussion which now obtains on the question of the colonies having a voice in the election of their Governors, yet we are forced to admit that a large amount of good is likely to come out of it. We learn from our London cablegrams that Lord Carnarvon, in referring to the field of selection, hints that the authorities ought to choose Governors outside the groove of official service, and not confine themselves to the hard and fas* lines of the Colonial office. That this is not the rule is shown by the following quotations from the pen of James Anthony Froude, who, speaking of the selection of colonial Governors, says : — " They are not chosen like the Eoman proconsuls, from the ranks of trained statesmen, who have held high administrative offices at Ilome. Among the public servants of Great Britain there are always persons to be found fit and willing for posts of honor and diffi culty if a sincere effort be made to find them, Alas ! in times past we have sent persons to rule over our Baratariaß to whom Sancho Panza was a sage— troublesome members of Parliament, younger brothers of powerful families, impecunious peers ; favorites, jrith back stairs influence, for whom a provision was to he found; colonial clerks, bred in the office, who had been obsequious and useful. They are appointed from various motives, sometimes with a careful regard to fitness for their post, sometimes with a regard merely to routine or convenience or to personal influence brought to bear in their favor ; but always and everywhere those I have fallen in with have been men of honor and integrity above reproach or suspicion — who have considered conscience and duty to be their safest guides, have cared, only to do what they believed to be right to the best of their ability, and have left their interests to take care of themselves." It is only a year ago since the above statements were published, and we are of opinion that they have exercised no small influence on the views ot Sir Thojjas Mcllwraith. It appears to us that the other Colonial : Goy«rnments, who are now taking part in the discussion with the Home Government, are taking up a reasonable position. New South Wales, while n^MglaiTning any wish to interfere with the functions of the Queen's advisers, thinks that she should be informed who is the person selected before he is actually appointed. South Australia says, if the privilege is conceded of stating objections to any nominee to the Governorship, the power will be exercised with a due appreciation of its importance, and, if Lord Knutsford desired, Ministers would be prepared to suggest the names of a number of men whose appointment would be acceptable to the colony. We do not think that, for some time at least, the Imperial Government will make the latter concession, because if they did it would be virtually placing in the hands of a Colonial Ministry the selection of a Governor, and thus depriving themselves of a valuable, or useful, piece of patronage. The whole question, however, clearly indicates that at no distant time the Colonies will demand as a right from the Home Country, what is now sought for as a privilege, aud the spirit in which the request of Sir Thomas Mcllwraith has been received by some of the most liberal newspapers and cleverest of English statesmen, shows that when the time comes very little real difficulty will be experienced between England and her colonies in arriving at a modus vivendi on terms mutually satisfactory.