the movement was gradually obtaining more vitality. The Secretary for the Colonies lost no time in replying, and his despatch (14th July, 1884) was as unsatisfactory as inconclusive. He says—"I am not at present prepared to authorise you to announce that Responsible Government could be granted if at the general election next year there should be a strong expression of opinion in favour of the change, because, as I pointed out, there are important political and financial questions which would have to be satisfactorily settled before any such steps could be taken, and I confess that I anticipate considerable difficulty in dealing with some of these questions." Then, in non-committal terms, he promised that "if there should be a general and decisive declaration in favour of the change," Her Majesty’s Government "would not refuse to examine the details of the arrangement which it would be necessary to make if Responsible Government should be introduced."
Before the receipt of this despatch, reference was made to the agitation when the Address in Reply was debated by the Council in 1884. Mr. Burt was particularly outspoken, and hoped that members would he spared, during the ensuing session, "insincere movements" in favour of Responsible Government. Three questions were brought forward which detracted attention, and two of them were designed to give the public more satisfaction with the existing constitution. Some stress was laid upon a movement which had for its object the separation of the northern and southern portions of the colony. Settlement had extended from the Gascoyne to the extreme north in the Kimberley division, and this country became not the least valuable in Western Australia. Dissatisfaction arose as to the original land laws proclaimed for Kimberley, and the northern people considered that they should have more public money spent among them. Numerous references had been made on the latter point in the Council, especially in connection with the surplus which the Government was hoarding in the Treasury. One or two Legislative councillors advocated separation, and the formation of Western Australia into two colonies. They declared that the colony was so immense and so diverse in its resources and climatic conditions that an administration in one portion could not satisfactorily safeguard and foster the interests of the other. The Governor and the Secretary for the Colonies were alike convinced of the importance of these contentions, but they seemed to give more prominence to the movement than its popularity deserved. Indeed, there was a suspicion that undue stress was laid upon it, to make the establishment of Responsible Government as formidable as possible; at least, the despatches of the Secretary for the Colonies suggest the hypothesis. At no time was there a general or organised cry for separation, but despatches were exchanged and addresses delivered notwithstanding.
Attention was directed to the question during 1884 and part of 1885, and the Government even sent to New South Wales for information as to the terms and conditions upon which Victoria and Queensland had obtained separation from that colony. Questions were asked in the House, and judging from Lord Derby’s despatches, and remarks from Governor Broome, separation appeared inevitable, but after 1885 few references were made to it until 1888-9. Mr. Wittenoom told the House, in July, 1885, some of the circumstances which led Champion Bay and other northern people to take a fugitive interest in the matter. He set it down to irritation and dissatisfaction with the infrequency and smallness of votes of public money to develop the north country, and the careless and bungling way in which the money, when voted, was expended. One request was so cavalierly treated that the people were intensely annoyed. Then he praised the judicious tactics adopted by Governor Broome after his return from England, and said that his recent conciliatory attitude had disarmed the disaffection of much of its virility. But he predicted that the time would come when, owing to geographical and other causes, the movement for separation would be followed and, no doubt, be rewarded.
The elections referred to in Governor Broome's despatch were held in October and November, 1884. In isolated constituencies the question of Responsible Government was debated with some interest, but taking the colony as a whole, no marked desire was expressed. The new Council consisted of M. Fraser, Colonial Secretary; A. P. Hensman, Attorney-General; C. T. Mason (who had succeeded Mr. Thomas), Director of Public Works, and J. Forrest, Surveyor-General (officials); J. G. Lee Steere, G. Randell, W. T. Loton, and T. Burges (nominees); Sir T. C. Campbell, W. E. Marmion, W. S. Pearse, M. Brown, E. H. Wittenoom, C. Crowther, S. Burt, McKenzie Grant, A. C. McRae, Sir L. S. Leake, S. H. Parker, H. Brockman, G. Shenton, G. Layman, H. W. Venn, and C. Harper (elected members.)
So as to give the Executive more direct sympathy with the people and Parliament, Governor Broome proposed in 1884 to take advantage of the Royal Instructions of 1878 by adding two unofficial members to that body. This was the suggestion made by Mr. Lee-Steere in 1873, when the agitation for Responsible Government was so keen and weighty. In 1884 Mr. Lee-Steere was provisionally appointed. The Governor expressed the desire to increase the influence and participation of the people in their government, and asked members of the Legislative Council to propose two representatives whom he would appoint. Mr. Shenton said he was sure the Governor was actuated simply by a desire to make the existing constitution popular in the eyes of the country. Mr. S. H. Parker doubted whether it was a popular move, and believed if the country were polled that nine-tenths of the people would vote against it. It was intended as a salve to the agitation for Responsible Government. The proposal was supported by only a narrow majority of the unofficial members of the House, and met with opposition outside, and the Governor abandoned it. Mr. Lee-Steere's appointment was, however, confirmed, and he continued to sit till the introduction of Responsible Government in 1890.
The clamour of the people in the north for more consideration led to an amendment of the constitution in 1886 by which the number of members of the Legislative Council was increased. During the 1885 session of Parliament, an address to the Governor was carried asking for representation for the Kimberley district. Considering the importance of this country and his own references thereto, and also to give a maximum of satisfaction in the existing constitution, Governor Broome was quite willing to concede the point. A bill was introduced in the following session, increasing the number of legislators to twenty-six, comprised of nine nominated official and unofficial and seventeen elective members. The northern portion of the Northern district was taken to form the Kimberley district, for which Mr. Alexander Forrest was the first representative. Mr. D. K. Congdon was appointed a nominee member.
By this time the Imperial expenditure for convicts had become very small, and any regret which might have been felt against relinquishing this annual subsidy in favour of Responsible Government was no longer tenable. In 1886 the visual trail of the convict era
