Page:Extraordinary Government Gazette of Western Australia (No.48 of 1890).djvu/1



Government Gazette EXTRAORDINARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. [ Published by Authority. ]

No. 48.] [1890. PERTH: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25.

No. 4420.—C.S.O. Colonial Secretary's Office, 2970/90 Perth, 24th October, 1890.

IS Excellency the Governor directs the publication of the following documents, for general information.

By Command, MALCOLM FRASER, Colonial Secretary.

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary.

I see by the papers that, the question has been considerably discussed whether the first Ministry under Responsible Government should be selected immediately after the proclamation of the Constitution Act, or whether the selection should be deferred until after the general elections. The point was not considered in England before I left. It appears to have been taken for granted, both by the Colonial Office and Sir Frederick Broome, as certainly it was by myself, that no Ministers would or could be selected until after the elections; and therefore, not wishing to delay the Proclamation (the day for which had been fixed before my arrival) I have only had, so to speak, a few hours in which to talk the matter over with any one on the spot. At the same time, the course which I ought to adopt appears to be pretty clear. What right have I to assume that Mr. A, Mr. B or Mr. C will be elected a Member of Parliament? What right have I to assume that this candidate or that will, if elected, be supported by a working majority? And how, therefore, can I possibly select any Ministry until the country has done its part, and furnished me with a Parliament from which to make my selection? On the whole, it appears to me that until the country has decided on its representatives, and the Legislative Council has been created, I am bound, so far as the selection of the first Parliamentary Ministry is concerned, to maintain a passive attitude, and simply to make some temporary arrangement to keep the Government machinery going until the new Executive—the first Responsible Ministry—is in a position to take charge.