The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4476, 10 May 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1883.

Thb Government are hesitating whether they will appoint a Boyal Commission, or legislate upon information already obtained, with regard to the working of the Native Land Act. This is the information conveyed to us. The real difficulty which the Government experience is : Will they trust 'themselves to a chance of being beaten on the question, or will they shift the responsibility of action in this impor» tant matter to a lot of irresponsible nominees? The present Ministry has proved over and over again quite capable of grasping a difficulty of this kind, and disposing of it in various convenient ways, and doubtless it will remove this small block from it path as it has done others. The system of Government by commission is a most pernicious one, and if permitted to exist it is likely to undermine representative government to a very alarming extent. It not only enables ministers to get rid of the performance of; disagreeble duties, and provides them with the means of getting parliament to do acts devolving upon them, by adopting the reports of commissions, but it puts in the hands of unprincipled men the power of carrying out jobbery of the grosses! description, and gives those desirous of obtaining it help to carry on the most glaring corruption imaginable. The recommendation of a Boyal Commission in the hands of a ministry with a majority at its back is a thing that can be used in any way suitable to the personal interests of those who hold it, without necessarily attainting them with any evil consequences arising from it. The House is called upon to consider a report from such a body, and to accept or reject it, but the House has no say in the personnel of that body. Services rendered or expected, or a wavering vote, frequently entice an appointment to the position of a Royal Commissioner, and it would be the basest ingratitude on the part of an appointee not to "find '' accord" ing to the wishes of the nominator. It it time that the Boyal Commission system of Government were dispensed with, and the continuous Ministry which we are burdened with, and are likely to have remain tied to us, took upon their own shoulders the responsibility of their acts. Certainly they have had scapegoats for most of the misdeeds they have committed, in the names of these same Commissions: and it is time they were brought to a sense of the fact that they do uot occupy their present positions for

the purpose of carrying on the government of the country by a " catspaw" method.