Document Information

Date: 1867-05-25
By: New Brunswick (House of Assembly)
Citation: New Brunswick, House of Assembly, Reports of the Debates of The House of Assembly [1867] at 73.
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SATURDAY, MAY 25.

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(p. 73)

APPOINTMENT OF SENATORS.

Mr. Smith asked the Provincial Secretary whether he still persisted in keeping information back in regard to the recommendation for the appointment of Senators?

Hon. Mr. Tilley said it was not customary to give information in regard to advice given until that advice had been acted upon. It might be that the names recommended to Her Majesty would not appear in the Proclamation.

Mr. Smith said they have been officially informed that the Proclamation had been issued; they had a right to ask the Government for this information, and they should not be kept in the dark for a fortnight, waiting until the steamer brought the Proclamation out. They should not keep the information back because they are acting as advisers to Her Majesty, as there was nothing in the Imperial Act requiring them to give their advice. He could not compel the Government to give information, but it was right the people and House should have it.

Hon. Mr. Tilley said advice had been given, but they did not know whether it had been taken. When the Proclamation was published they had either to assume the responsibility of this advice or ignore it, but he had never known a parallel case where a Government had been asked to state what advice they had tendered.

Mr. Smith thought it was only fair to the country that they should know who the Senators were; the Proclamation had come out, and the Government were not justified in withholding information.

Hon. Mr. Tilley said there was no precedent for it.

Mr. Smith said the whole thing was new, and the whole legislation was without a parallel in the history of any free country.

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