POWER OF A GOVERNOR.

Southland Times, Issue 959, 29 May 1868, Page 3

POWER OF A GOVERNOR.

The following article is taken from the " Straits Times." :— In theory, a Governor of a Crown Colony is about as good a representative of absoluteism or despotism, as can be met with in modern times. He has more real power in his hands, and is less hampered in its exercise, than a Napoleon or a Czar of all the Russias has or is. Some of our readers may not be aware of this, and their intellects and conversation may be benefited by a word or two as to the scope and extent of the powers entrusted to the Governor of a Crown Colony. The Colonial Office JAAst tells us all about it. Eroni its compact pages, we learn that the Governor is Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's regular forces in the Colony. and gives the word (whatever that may mean) in all places within his jurisdiction He has the power of granting pardons or respites, and of remitting fines, penalties, and forfeitures. No money can be spent for any public service without his special order. H e can confer appointments, and can suspend from office any public official without exception, no matter how high his position. The initiation of all laws belongs of right to the Governor, and he can grant or withhold his assent to any Bill at his will and pleasure. He is supposed to be advised and guided by an executive and legislative council, but generally and practically , he him self is the council, for its members being all his officials, or appointed by the Crown, must do and vote as he wills and says, under penalty of losing tbeir appointments. A foolish man may ask what is the good or object of having a council at all, when one man can control and order everything according to his good will and pleasure. But it is not convenient to answer some foolish questions. And besides, inconsistencies, and anomalies, and stupidities aTe dear to the English mind. There is no creature so easily led by the nose by means of forms and ceremonies, and precedents, as John Bull. And so the names of Executive and Legislative Councils, no matter although they are mere shams, are sufficient to satisfy his parental anxieties regarding his numerous colonial offspring. The Governor may or may not follow the advice of his councils just as it may seem good to him. And if any Councillor makes himself officious, or obnoxious, or disagreeable, he can be suspended. But there is always in this world some drawback or another to the pleasantest things, and a Governor, like everybody else, has got his thorns in his side and his skeleton in a closet. Tn the first place, his reign is limited, not generally extending over five or six years. Next, there is a Secretary of State to haul him over the coals, in case of his, in g,ny way, getting out of the beaten path of official routine or even of his breaking the regular well known official jog-trot. Last of all, there is public opinion to criticise and comment upon his every act. Man is an envious animal, and the love of power is inveterately ingrained into him, and is a sort of passion. If this passion cannot be gratified in propria persona, it runs into the greatest jealousy of any other being more highly favored. As there must be rulers and governors, this jealousy finds vent in devising all sorts of curbs and fetters to restrain and shackle them in the exercise of their power. A Colonial Government from its nature is so far exempt from the application of the ordinary procautions, but it' cannot get rid of the watchful scrutiny of public opinion; and, now-a-days, this public opinion has got into a way of making itself felt — of showing its power — and forcing its decisions on the most selfwilled and despotic autocrats. And any one who braves this public opinion is pretty sure to find out in the long run that he has made a great mistake.