S. Burt by Captain T. Fawcett. In the Executive Council, on 10th December, 1885, Captain M.S. Smith became for a time the Acting Colonial Secretary in place of Mr. M. Fraser, who had successfully filled either that or the Surveyor-General's office in the Council since 1870. In June, 1885, Mr. J.A. Wright was appointed Director of Public Works and Commissioner of Railways. Attorney-General Hensman resigned early in 1886, after a serious disagreement with Governor Broome. He sent his resignation to Her Majesty's Government, through the Governor, expressing his determination not to serve with the latter. His Excellency precipitately accepted his resignation, but Mr. Hensman pointed out that he had not the legal power to act in such a manner. Then Governor Broome formally interdicted the Attorney-General from discharging his official duties pending the receipt of the opinion of the Home authorities upon the subject. In course of time a telegraphic despatch was received from the Secretary of State cancelling the interdiction, and granting Mr. Hensman leave of absence. A lucrative post at Barbados was subsequently offered to him, which he declined, and the Home Government thereupon formally accepted his resignation. Mr. Hensman was unusually popular in his department. He remained in the colony, and in April, 1887, was elected to the Legislative Council for the Greenough district, vice Mr. C. Crowther (resigned). For a few weeks Mr. S. Burt, and then Mr. G.W. Leake, conducted the affairs of the Attorney-General's office, and in December, 1886, Mr. C.N. Warton undertook the duties. In August, 1887, Messrs. J. Morrison and E.R. Brockman were appointed nominee members of the Legislative Council, in place of Messrs. W.T. Loton and T. Burges (resigned), and Mr. A. R. Richardson was elected to the North District, in succession to Mr. Grant. On 13th August, 1886, an important debate was held. The utterances of the various speakers had a more decisive ring than those of recent years, and though a motion by Mr. H.W. Venn, proclaiming that the time had arrived when Western Australia should adopt Responsible Government, was lost, it nevertheless marked a distinct historical advance. Mr. Venn, in a fervid speech, which called forth cheers from the strangers' gallery, said he favoured autonomy because he was convinced that it was the only course to ensure prosperity and advancement, and because it was more in accordance with the feelings of Englishmen. Each year during his seven years' tenure of a seat in the House he had become a stronger advocate of it. Under Responsible Government the whole colony could prosper, and no one part could absorb all the benefits, nor be forced ahead at the expense of another. Mutual interests would overcome the centralisation which was rapidly driving Western Australia rate fractious, and would bind the people harmoniously together. Mr. Scott, in an earnest speech, seconded the motion, and Captain Fawcett supported it. Mr. Crowther declared that seven-tenths of the people cared nothing for Responsible Government; he did not want half measures, but when a general cry was made he would be ready to help. Mr. Harper moved that the consideration of the question be postponed until the next session, and Mr. Shenton seconded, asserting that, though not opposed to the principle, the time was inopportune. According to his view self-government was dangerous unless a strong opposition existed; without this, in truth, party government was of the most despotic. Mr. Wittenoom contended that the existing form of government depreciated Western Australia in the eyes of her neighbours; with autonomy, when reference to Downing Street was done away with, there would be more finality in legislation. But he thought that the majority of his northern constituency favoured separation from the south, and as he was pledged to support that movement he could not consistently vote with Mr. Venn. Mr. S.H. Parker confined himself to a few words, and opposed the postponement. By direction of Governor Broome the official members did not vote; the amendment was carried, and the motion was lost by eleven votes to eight.
The earnestness of the debate was infective. The langour of the past few years was succeeded by activity. Some of those councillors who voted against the motion did so merely because they believed that there was no keen desire in the constituencies for self-government. In this they were well within their privileges. But the desire soon came. Newspapers, especially the West Australian (an excellent survival of the historical Gazette), and Inquirer, agitated with happier conviction. The West Australian, under the editorship of Sir T.C. Campbell, had previously been half-hearted, but with the infusion of new talent it rose to the occasion. The determinateness of the agitation which culminated in the introduction of Responsible Government may be said to have dated from 1886, and the newspapers mentioned merit a strong mede of praise for the prominent part they took in the movements.
Before the meeting of the Legislative Council in 1887 a petition was circulated among Perth residents favouring the immediate introduction of Responsible Government. This was placed in the hands of Mr. S.H. Parker, who presented it to the Council in June of that year. Governor Broome communicated with the Imperial Government concerning the debate of 1886, and received a despatch from the Secretary for the Colonies, which, to say the least, was unwarranted and unjust. Seizing upon the old argument, that official said that it would not be practicable to surrender to a Parliament representing a small population, principally residents of the southern districts, the control of all the vast territory included in Western Australia. But by what system of reasoning it was decided to be more difficult to administer this large territory under self-government than under the cumbersome machinery of representative government, where all important matters were relegated to the decision of statesmen thousands of miles away, who had no personal knowledge of the country, the Secretary for the Colonies did not say. It would be surely considered that Britishers residing in a colony would more satisfactorily subserve their interests than an administration composed of British officials appointed in England, whose salaries the colony had to pay, but who were more subservient to Britishers at home than to the censure of the Western Australian people. The population was certainly small, and the country extensive, but, upon the showing of the Home Government's own officer, the local intelligence and finances justified the granting of autonomy when a general desire for it was expressed. No arguments were adduced to show how the administration of a large tract of country would be more difficult for responsible ministers than for officers appointed by the Imperial Government.
In his address on opening the Council, Governor Broome referred to this despatch. Then he continued—"Though far from being an opponent of Responsible Government, I have, on more than one occasion, publicly stated my opinion that separation would be too dear a price of this colony to pay, at the present time, even for a boon so naturally desired by the English race as Parliamentary Government." But should an address in favour of Responsible Government be placed in his hands by the House, he would transmit it to the Secretary of State, with the request for a statement of the views of Her Majesty's Government on the whole question. Upon receipt of those views he would make them public, and dissolve the Legislature in order that the people might pronounce judgment.
