CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 151

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maintained the views expressed by them their reply would be that they regretted ever having touched the subject.

I have made enquiries in several

directions as to the reason for this sudden burst of activity

on the part of the Constitutional Reform Association. It

would appear that the press in the Colony have bem comment-

-ing on the absence of vitality in the Association, and the

only possible way of galvanizing a little life into it was

by raising the old cry of the permanent official majority in

the Legislature. I yield to no one in my preference for real-

-ly democratic institutions and one speaker, Mr. J. H......———

McGuigan, endeavoured to show the promoters of the meeting

that there is no half way house between the existing system

and full self-government. I am unable to understand how it is proposed that this Government is to carry on in a perpetual minority. The movement to alter the constitution of the Legislative Council is based on no substantive ground and it is a singularly ill-timed agitation. The Colony is on the eve of great developments that will require very large sume of money and in the course of which what are known as vested interests may have to auffer to some extent. It is essential that during the years of development there should be an absolutely stable Government with no interest to safeguard but that of the Colony at large; a Government whose honesty of purpose cannot be assailed, with the power to consult the most disinterested citizens, and to use the best available brains in the Colony in devising schemes of public utility. It is my firm opinion that the present system fairly worked is the best and surest guarantee to the community that its

interests will not be neglected.

I have the honour to be, My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient,

humble servant,

ClaudSever

Officer Administering the Government.