the Committee, the power to direct
and push this enquiry to
a
its utmost limits, instead of there being majority who
have always opposed enquiry and deem it inopportune and un-
necessary, or an equality of votes tending to neutralize
and stop all effective action. It is with very deep regret
that I find myself compelled to agree with His Honour the
Chief Justice that there are and will be issues. It is the
essential condition of all free Government that there should
be parties, and the persistent opposition of the officials
during the last few years to all prayers for enquiry has
rendered it in this instance a little more marked.
I am very sorry to have put His Excellency to so
much trouble. I thank him very sincerely for the honour done
me in nominating me on this Commission. I should have liked
to act on it, but I cannot consistently consent to do so. I
still think an independent enquiry desirable and necessary.
There can be no independent enquiry of the comprehensive
nature desired by the public, and directed by the Secretary
of State unless at least a majority of the whole Committee
are decidedly in favour of enquiry, and of enquiry in that
particular form. I believe, with all respect to the opinion
of His Excellency, and His Honour the Chief Justice, that
the Secretary of State intended to concede such an enquiry
and that the Committee as at present constituted may be within
the letter but is not within the spirit of His Lordship's
despatch. I am speaking now solely for myself. If the other
Unofficial Members of Council do not agree with me and are
content to accept this as the enquiry they asked for, they
are free to act on it, and my place is easily filled by one
or