“L’Etat-II Est Moi!”
p. 27 · Read in the full issue
Question and Answer In Federal Parliament
FOR examples of thoroughly acidulated Parliamentary questions, with com pletely bland and non-committal official answers, the following are commended.
The questions were asked by Mr. Black burn, a Labour member, and the answers, of course, were given by the Prime Minister of Australia: Is it a fact that a Governor of a Crown colony is, by royal instructions, required to consult his Executive Council on all matters of importance except in cases of urgency or in cases of such a nature that, in his judgment, the King’s service would sustain material prejudice by such con sultation?
Inquiry is being made as to whether such an instruction is given to Governors of Crown colonies.
Have similar instructions been issued to the Administrator of New Guinea; if not, why not?
The Executive Council for New Guinea is constituted by the New Guinea Act 1920-1932. It has been established to advise and assist the Administrator. The need for further instructions to the Adminis trator regarding the use of the Executive Council has not been disclosed.
Is it a fact that, except on proposed legislation by the territory’s Legislative Council or on proposed regulations, the Executive Council is rarely consulted?
The attention of the honorable member is invited to section 12 of the above
mentioned act. Since the date of its incep tion, on the 9th May, 1933, meetings of the Executive Council have been held as fol loWs: —1933, 7; 1934, 11; 1935, 6 (to 18th September, 1935).
Will he ask the Administrator why he does not usually consult his Executive Council on matters of importance other than those mentioned in the preceding paragraph ?
It is not proposed that action should be taken in the direction indicated.
Speaking in the House on December 16, Mr. Blackburn said: “A good deal of fric tion is occasioned in New Guinea by the fact that the Administrator does not con sult the Council except in regard to pro posed legislation and ordinances, and com plaints have arisen because of this lack of consultation on general policy.”