4
251.
the postponement of the consideration of the Commons, No. 749, of 1848, p. estimates, and he therefore determined, by Ditto House of Lords, No. 250, of means of his official majority in the Court of 1848, p. 637. Policy, to oppose Mr. Rose's resolutions, and to pass the estimates, and this determination he carried out. The resolutions were thus nega- tived, and the estimates, the same as those of the preceding year, were passed; the colonial members protesting that it was in violation of the Governor's promised postponement, and that the carrying of the estimates by the Governor's casting vote, was unconstitutional, illegal, and contrary to usage.
The estimates having passed the Court of Policy, Sir H. Light had then to pass them through the Combined Court, and to obtain the supplies. He therefore summoned that Court, the body to whom the control and regulation of the finances is confided, to meet on the 20th April for that purpose. This Court however, like the Court of Policy, resolved that it was desirable to defer the consideration of the Estimate until the
result of the deliberations of the Committee of the House of Commons was known; recommended the postponement of the Estimates till the 20th July, offering at the same time to extend the tax ordinance, which would expire on the 30th June, until the 15th August. Sir H. Light however refused to accept a tax ordinance for a shorter period than three months, because, as he says in his despatch, it would have "left your Lordship
no time for deliberation as to the mode in which this career of opposition could be met, and, I trust, checked."
The elective members, on the other hand, considering that the extension of the tax ordi- nance till the 15th August would give sufficient time to ascertain the ultimate measures of the Home Government, adhered to their resolutions, throwing upon the Executive the responsibility if any loss of revenue should accrue; and the Governor, on his part, maintaining his position, adjourned the Court sine die, leaving the supplies unprovided for after the 30th June.
Sir II. Light, who was only waiting for the arrival of his successor, considering his presence
p. 23.
p. 33,
Governor Light to Earl Grey
April 28, 1848, p. 25. In Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons, No. 749 of 1848, p.
263.
Ditto, House of Lords, No. 250
of 1848, p. 649.
p. 28.
p. 33.
Lord Grey to Mr. Walker, June
17, p. 44.
5
of no further avail, quitted the colony, leaving the government in the hands of Mr. Walker, the Colonial Secretary.
Lord Grey entirely approved of the course
In Parliamentary Papers, House taken by Sir H. Light, and instructed Mr. of Commons, No. 749 of 1848, Walker to refuse his assent to any ordinance, p. 282, and House of Lords, No. 250 of 1848, p. 668.
July 1 to June 30.
providing the supplies for a shorter time than the termination of the customary financial year.
"If great loss and very serious injury," says Lord Grey, "should be inflicted on the colony by the stoppage of the supplies, I shall greatly regret it, but the responsibility will rest entirely with the members of the Combined Court who brave refused to pass the annual ordinance." And again, "If the measure be designed to enforce compliance with a demand for a reduction of the salaries granted to public servants by the civil list ordinance, it is equally unreasonable. I con- ceive the faith of the Crown and of the colony to be pledged to the public servants, for the main- tenance of the salaries granted by that ordinance for the period for which it is in force. At the same time," added Lord Grey, “if any of the offices paid from the civil list should become vacant, I should
any proper approve of
and
prac- ticable reductions which can be made in the salaries attached to them,"
In the event of the actual stoppage of the sup- plies, Mr. Walker was instructed to consider the civil list salaries as the first charges upon any monies that might be at his disposal.
As the time was fast approaching when the annual tax ordinance would expire, and being without instructions from home, (the preceding despatch not having been received,) Mr. Walker determined
upon summoning the Combined Court,
Mr. Walker to Earl Grey, June which he accordingly did on the 16th June, in
16, 1848, p. 53.
In Parliamentary Papers, House of order that the Court might reconsider their de- Commons, No. 749 of 1848, p. termination of granting the supplics for six weeks only, and their alternative of refusing to provide them altogether.
297.
P. 54.
At that meeting Mr. Davison, one of the financial representatives, proposed, backed by Mr. Rose, that the tax ordinance should be renewed for six weeks. This was opposed by the Attorney-General on the part of the Local Government, who proposed three months, and
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