Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 13
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Proclamations framed to give expression to the Governor's wishes, considered the
granting of pardons and the remission of fines, framed reports on such matters as land
policy, immigration, transportation and the franchise law. Subject to the Council's advice
the Governor directed the many branches of the Public Service, and approved
applications for positions and applications from government officers for increased
salaries. The Council also considered the suspension and/or removal of government
officers and ratified departmental arrangements.
After 1856, the chief executive authority was the Cabinet, consisting of all the Ministers
of the Crown. The Executive Council comprised the Governor, and advisers appointed by
him in accordance with his instructions and with the conventions of responsible
government. The Council's chief purpose was to give legal authority to the more
important instruments of executive government, such as Orders in Council, Regulations
and Proclamations.
The appointment of Members to the Legislative Council, elections, appointment of
electoral officers, separation of the Port Phillip and Moreton Bay districts from New South
Wale, are among the many matters considered by the Council.
Series that may be of particular interest to those interested in responsible government
are the Minutes books, 1825-1935 (CGS 4232), Appendices to Minutes, 1825-48 (CGS
4234), and the Registers of minute papers laid before the Executive Council, 1846-1909
(CGS 4235).
Governor
The Governor represents the Crown, and acted on orders transmitted by the British
Secretary of State until the Australia Acts 1986 ended the right of the British
Government to legislate for Australia. Legislative and political developments have limited
the extent of the Governor's powers over time, but the role of executive head of
government, and representative of the Crown, has remained constant.
Although the Governor remained answerable to the British Secretary of State, following
the establishment of responsible government in New South Wales in 1856 the Governor
rarely exercised the full powers of his office independently of Ministerial advice.
Instructions to the Governor in 1900 directed him to attend and preside over meetings of
the Executive Council, and to be guided by the advice of the Council; to appoint the
members of the Legislative Council with the advice of the Executive Council, and to deny
assent to certain Bills reserved for Royal consideration. In 1902 the Constitution Act
reaffirmed the role of the Governor in fixing the time and place of meetings of the
Legislative Council and Assembly, and his power to prorogue meetings and to dissolve
the Legislative Assembly. Standing Rules and Orders for both Houses required the
approval of the Governor, and the Legislative Assembly could not pass money Bills that
had not first been recommended by the Governor.
As the Governor dealt with officials both here and in England he was generally the first
channel of communication between the two. He would therefore have been involved in all
issues relating to the new legislative bases for the Legislative Council and the
Parliament, constitutional crises, dismissal of Premier Lang, and many other matters
relating to the Parliament and executive government.
The particular series which may be of interest are those relating to communications with
the Secretary of State. These include the Indexes and registers to despatches from the
Secretary of State (CGS 4511) and Despatches, circulars and cables from the Secretary
of State and the Under Secretary, and copies of despatches to the Secretary of State
(NRS 4512). There are also many series relating to communications both within New
South Wales and externally with the other Australian Colonies/States which might be of
interest.
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State Records Authority of New South Wales