CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8] — Page 460

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