Chapter VII.
The Canterbury Provincial Council.
The early days of Provincial Government presented some interesting constitutional problems which may more conveniently be discussed in this chapter, as it is not proposed to follow in detail the later proceedings of the Council except in so far as they have a direct hearing on the story of the city of Christchurch.
The Superintendent, in opening the first session of the Provincial Council, had announced his intention to appoint the members of his Executive; that much was clear. Could he also dismiss them? Who was to be responsible for policy, the Superintendent or the members of the Executive? If the Superintendent and the members of Executive agreed upon a policy which proved unacceptable to a majority in the Provincial Council, what was to be done? Even if new Ministers whose policy was in accordance with that of the Legislature, were appointed, nothing could be done as long as the Superintendent chose to exercise his right of veto, and there seemed no reason why he should not exercise it. He was elected by the people just as much as the members of the Provincial Council were. Therein his position
