Present,-
3. Mr.
DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, MARCL
Legislative Council.
28th March, 1866.
His Excellency the Governor. The Colonial Treasurer. The Auditor General, The Ilon. Thes. Sutherland.
The Hon. James Whittal.
The Hon. Francis Chomicy. The Acing Chief Justice.
The Acting Attorney General,
The minutes of the previous regular Council having boon road; liis Excellency desired the se- cretary to refd also the minutes of the Council of the 12th March, at which he had taken the oaths of office. The minutes having been read accordin ly. Bis Excellency observed, that strict- Ir speaking they were not correct as he had not at that Council taken the oaths prescribed by his instructions. The short time which elapsed on the 12th Inst., between the production of his instruc- tions and the ceremony of taking the oaths ren- dered more br less excusable the mistake com-
mitted by those who had charge of the prelimi- nary arranguents. He now availed himself of this opportunity to correct a Disapprehension as to any informality in the administration of the oaths, invaledating his note as governor, Uis au- thority as governor was derived from her Majesty's commission, and did not depend (as far as regard-
of $265.000 which had been principally caused by The expenditure on the Mint, and the dillerent system of account adopted in reference to the Post office remittanees. It would be found how. ever that if these two items were dedne:ed from the gross total of $285,000 the General Expen- diture was really less by $27,000 than had been originally contemplated. He believed that it was the general practice that the draft should be read a first time, and then printed; which he should now move; but before doing so, he would say, that it was quite in the power of any member in ask any quest on relative to the drait before the Council-thou snch questions would be more usefully put when each member had received a printed copy of the Ordinance.
The motion was then put and carried anani- inously.
The Hon. Thos Sutherland anid that he wished to ask a question which was not relative to the motion before the Council. tie wished to ask if there was any difference between the official and the non-official members of the Council in respect
Secretary had already expressed his opinion? to voting upon questions upon which the Colonial
The Governor said any merober of this Council Each member might entertain his own opinion upon was equally free to speak and vote as he liked.
every question brought before the Council, and it therwise than in accordance with his convictions. was not to be supposed if he voted that he did so
Council before they would find bia uffering any He (the Governor) would sit a long time in that
ed the public) upon his taking any particular form opposition in that Chamber to perfect freedom of oath. The instructions which Governor recfficial member of council differed from the settle-, of speech and voting. If the opinion of any ecived from Her Majesty, he might make publiced policy of I. M. Government and he publicly or he might not and his obedience to them was opposed a positive dreision of the hecretary of
a matter for which he was solely responsible to State the latter or the Governor might possible seck the crown but he authority of his office was de-
selve:i.
rived from a different source viz., is commission.xplanations affecting that members continuance in office whilst using his office publicly to thwart Stil as he was required under the sign manuel
the avowed policy of the Government which bej of Her Majesty take a particular form of oath which he had notas yet taken, he would now askThe Hon. Thos. Sutherland said that be referred the Acling Chief Justice to admițister that oath to him. Moreoverļas there appeared to have been s me little irregularity in the manner in which the other oath had been administered at the Coun- cil of the 13th March, be would also take the lat- ter path again.
The Acting Chief Justice then administered to His Excellency the oath prescribed by the act passed for that purpose in the Twenty first and Twenty second year for Her Majesty's reign and also the usual oath for due execution of the
office of governor.
to an official member's position as a member of this Council. Would such an act as voting in opposition to the Secretary of State's views on- tail any special consequences to a government official f
The Governor said that he apprehended the Hon. wemoers question must limit itself to the prive- eges of a member of this Council; as anything connected with the other rules and custom of the Civil Service could not conveniently be discussed there. He would say that at that board every one. could speak and vote as be liked. Every member bad in that respect equal freedom with the Gover- responsibility they were only those responsibilities nor, und if the official members bad any furth or which they shared with all office holders in Crown
The conversation then dropped.
The GOVERNOR then said that the only other business before the Council was to read for a first time the draft of a "Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum not exceed ing $205,000 to defray the charges of the year 1800" He was quite willing to offer any explan-Colonies and which were well understood. ution that might be required; although the act was one not belonging to his administration. This Colony being a Crown Colony, was not in the same position as those Colonies that possessed th. ir own legislatures in reference to its budget, as the Executive here was bound to furnish our estimates to the home government by June or cach year, for the following year. The supplementary expenditure had been estimated at the large sum
His Excellency then expressed the pleasure be felt at moeting the council for the first ime for the transaction of business and as they could have Ibut one common object in their discussions viz the promotion of the general prosperity of the Colonies he trusted that their future meetings, would be characterised by united actio and con- dial sympathy between himself and the members. His Excellency then adjourned the Council.
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