THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1562, 20 February 1879, Page 3

THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

[Press Special Wire.] W ellingxon, February 18. The “Times” this morning says: “ Whether in a colony enjoying representative institutions and Parliamentary Government, a Governor is to be regarded as ornamental only, and not as a political officer, and as a branch of the Legislature of the colony as established by law, he is the representative of the Crown in that portion of the Queen’s dominions over which, by his commission, he is appointed to preside, and his office at least entitles him to respect and consideration from all the loyal subjects of Her Msjesty within that sphere. If the functions of a Governor are, as has been said, only to discharge certain ceremonial duties, to represent the community at large upon public occasions, to act as the mouthpiece of public sentiment, and to render service to society by the exercise of a dignified and liberal hospitality on all suitable occasions to all persons entitled to that favtr, without distinction of party, Lord Norman by has not failed in any one respect. But if—ard this is the true view—a constitutional Governor is an active portion ,of the Legislature, and of the Executive of the colony, having powers and duties defined by law, as well as power delegated and duties imposed by his Commission and by the Royal instructions, and, if in the discharge of these high functions, he shows his desire and his ability to hold the balance evenly between political parties, and to guard and protect the political liberties of the people. It is the duty of all good citizens to respect his office, and to strengthen and uphold him in the exercise of its lawful prerogatives. In this respect also Lord Normanby has been able to secure the confidence of colonists. The spontaneous demonstration made in his honor by the people of Wellington yesterday may be accepted as fe timony at once of their personal regard and esteem, and as an acknowledgment of their duty as good citizens to respect his office and to uphold its lawful prerogative. It is a subject for great regret that our responsible Ministers do not represent this public and general sentiment of loyalty to the Crown and respect and consideration for the Governor of the colony, and that their very peculiar views should have found the meanest practical expression in unprovoked offensiveness in their official rehu tions with the Governor, and the infliction of small personal annoyances and insults upon Lord Normanby whenever an opportunity could be found or made. On no occasion has this disposition been exhibited more remarkably than in the proceedings of yesterday. There was a studied negligence of all usual official propriety on the part of Ministers on the occasion of the final departure of a Governor of the colony from our shores, which shocked the general sentiment and greatly humiliated the loyal people of Wellington. We have two steam yachts, maintained at public cost and constantly used by Ministers upon their excursions of business or pleasure. One of them, the Hinemoa, left this port on Saturday, carrying mails and doing work for which the Union Steam Navigation Co. receives a subsidy. To-morrow or next day the Hinemoa may return to Wellington, carrying the Hon. Mr Ballance, Mr J. 0. Brown, and friends, from a cruise, whilst the Governor of the colony, with a sick wife in a very precarious conditicn of health, is forced to take passage in the small cabin of a crowded coasting steamer, and be subjected to all the discomfort and inconvenierce of such a situation on a voyage of six or seven days. When the papers relating to this unhappy business are dragged out and laid before .Parliament, every man and woman in New Zealand will be ready to cry “shame ” upon the small personal spitefulness which could stoop to seek its gratification in the infliction of discomfort and annoyance upon Lord Normanby and his family. Whether the rule of the future is to be personal or Parliamentary, at present we are supposed to be governed by written law—the Constitution Act, tempered by Ministerial responsibility in the conduct of public affairs. We venture to think that separation from the Empire is not the policy of the country, or of the majority of the House of Representatives. We do not believe that the present Government has been put into place and pay merely to carry on Sir George Grey’s vendetta with the Colonial Office by offering mean personal affronts and inflicting small annoyances upon representatives of Imperial authority in this colony. Whatever else may be neglected, that congenial work appears not to be lost sight of for a moment. Is the new Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, to be subjected to the same process ? Will the Premier be acting in accordance with the popular will, and in the interest of the colony, in so doing ? The “ Post ” to-night says:—The studied neglect shown by the Premier to Lord Normanby on the occasion of his departure has been a matter of general notoriety and unfavorable, even indignant, comment. Apart from the personal popularity the Marquis justly earned by the kindly and active interest ever manifested by him in all subjects affecting the general or social welfare of the people, the citizens of Wellington do not at all relish the discredit reflected upon the city as the vice regal place of abode by the subjection of the Governor to marked and uncalled-for slights during his residence therein, and particularly on his final departure from the place. They feel that some share of the odium attaching to these unpleasant circumstances is unavoidably ri-fleeted on the place in which they occurred, and naturally they are indignant. Accordingly Sir G. Grey may rest assured that, so far from enhancing bis popularity by his behaviour to Lord Normanby, he has impaired it most materially, and that, if it should be found that Sir Hercules Robinson is exposed to similar treatment from him, he will become as signally unpopular as he once was the reverse. Whatever political difference may appear to divide the people of New Zealand into parties and cliques, these are but superficial divisions, and do not at all affect the earnest and staunch loyalty which lies so deeply rooted in the hearts of the whole British nation. Wo are well assured that we give utterance to a sentiment all but universal when we express our hope that Sir George Grey will not think it essential in the interests of posterity and the human race, that he should continue towards Sir H. Robinson the lino of conduct he thought fit to adopt with his relations with the Marquis of Normanby. Napikb, February 19 _ The “ Telegraph,” in an article on the discourtesy shown by Ministers to Lord Normanby, says ;—“ It is gratifying to know that demonstrations of loyalty and personal respect, springing unbidden from the people of every class, and belonging to all shades of political opinion at Wtlington and Christchurch, proved to the Governor that Ministers in their rudeness to the representative of the Queen do not in any way reflect the opinion of colonists.: