STATE GOVERNORS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12604, 15 November 1926, Page 7

STATE GOVERNORS

LABOUR RESOLUTIONS OUTSPOKEN OPINIONS PROTEST AGAINST INTERFERENCE Br Telegraph.— Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received November 14, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 14. Tho Labour Conference discussed at length the question of State governors, and passed a series of resolutions to the effect:— 1. —“That this conference strongly protests against the action of the Governor in reviving Crown Colony methods in this State by refusing to permit his Ministers’ advice to prevail over his own opinions, and deploring that his attitude should result in aid b«ing given to the anti-Labour minority in the Assembly and to the antiLabour majority in the Legislative Council in their war against the Labour Government in the interests of the money powers of the State. 2.-“ That the Labour movement stands for the supremacy of the elected representatives of the people, and this conference will not tolerate a violation of the constitution by the exercise of autocratio powers and personal veto by a Governor appointed from abroad who comes here as a stranger and remains only a few years. 3. “That the condition of affairs in which a governor dominates the elected Chamber and the Government it diametrically opposed to the ideals and practice of our educated democracy and

constitutional practice of the State which has marched ahead of the autocratic methods of old colonial days. 4. —“That the Labour movement in New South Wales expresses an emphatic opinion that the Australian people do not need the presence of six State governors who are claimed by the National jParty to be vested with a personal power not exercised or claimed by the King himself in Britain. 5. —“That this conference declares that the Governor-General adequately represents the Imperial connection, and that State Governors are superfluous. 6. —“We further affirm our determination to maintain the rights of the people to govern themselves without interference from a governor who whenever he obstructs the Government of the day deliberately becomes an instrument of opposition and usurps a power not exercised by any other governor in Australia.” The resolutions were carried unanimously.