RESPONSIBLE MINISTERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2592, 12 July 1881, Page 2

RESPONSIBLE MINISTERS.

[to the editor.] Sir, —The Timaru Working Man’s Labor League and Political Union has adopted as their platform the following :—“ By the people, with the people, for the country ; to obtain responsible Government, national and municipal:” I have been asked by many how the Government of New Zealand is not a responsible Government, and to illustrate why we hold it is not responsible, I ask you to allow me through your columns to give just one instance of why it is not a responsible Government. Not to trouble you too much, I will take the formation of the Ministry. We will say the Governor calls upon the Hon J. Hall to form a Ministry. He immediately calls together his colleagues and nominates his own Ministers. If they accept, the Ministry is formed, and, with the approval of the Governor the thing is done. Now, to be a responsible Government, the Ministry nominated by the Hon J. Hall, or any other Premier, should appeal to their constituents immediately upon their nomination, and if they approve of the selection they would again return them ; if any one of the Ministry was not returned, it would be a proof that the people were not satisfied with the choice made by the Premier. As it is, Ministers are not responsible to the people or the country, only to the Premier, and the Premier to the Governor. This one instance will, I think, suffice to show that there is not a Government responsible to the people whose money they spend, but if more are wanted they can bo had.—l am, &c., H. E. BOARDMAN.