LETTERS, BETWEEN GOVERNOR ROBINSON, S BURT, G GLYDE AND R HARDEY RE PROPOSED 1877 AMENDMENT TO THE WINES, BEER & SPIRIT SALE ACT 1872

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Robinson, William CF. Burt, Septimus. Hardey, Richard Watson. Glyde, George

1877

Overview

Series of contemporary handwritten copies of letters dating from 1877 between Governor Robinson and Legislative Council of WA members Septimus Burt, George Glyde and Richard Watson Hardey. Re Bill to amend the Licensing Act.
The Governor was not happy his position on the matter regarding the Licensing Act was not supported by these nominated members of the Legislative Council.
a-c) Copy of three page letter from Governor Robinson to Septimus Burt, Richard Hardey and George Glyde dated 10 August 1877. The Governor is annoyed that Burt, Hardey and Glyde did not support his stand that there be no amendment of the existing licensing act.
d) Three page letter from Septimus Burt to Governor Robinson dated 14 August. Burt states that in his opinion the amendment was fairly minor and the Governor did not make any effort to find out what the views of the nominee members were on this matter.
e-h) Four page handwritten letter from Governor Robinson to Septimus Burt dated 17 August 1877 in response to Burt's letter. Robinson reiterates his position that if nominee members of the Legislative Council did not agree with a line of policy that he, as Governor, had announced then it was their duty to inform him in good time.
i) One page handwritten letter from Richard Hardey to Governor Robinson explaining why he supported the amendment and that he will continue to vote with his conscience.
j-k) Two page handwritten letter on white paper from George Glyde to Governor Robinson. Glyde repeats many of the sentiments, word for word, that Hardey expressed.
l-n) Copy of three page handwritten letter from Governor Robinson to George Glyde and Richard Hardey dated 18 August 1877. Robinson says he is not opposed to them voting with their conscience but he objected to not being informed that they would not support the Government on matters of great public importance.

Historical information

Sir William Cleaver Francis Robinson, Governor of Western Australia 1875-1877, 1880-1883,1890-1895 - author
Septimus Burt, nominated member of the Legislative Council 1874-1879 - author
Richard Watson Hardey, nominated member of the Legislative Council 1876-1880, 1890-1894 - author
George Glyde, nominated member of the Legislative Council 1874-1879, 1882-1885, 1892-1894 - author

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-46-1983.24a-n

Item type

Documents

Material

Ink

Paper

Contextual information

This correspondence comprises copies of six letters between Governor Sir William CF Robinson and three nominated members of the Legislative Council about the proposed bill to amend the "Wines, Beer & Spirit Sale Act 1872, Amendment Act 1875". (The Act under discussion was eventually amended in July 1878 after the departure of Governor Robinson.)
In 1877, the date of this correspondence, there were 18 members of the Legislative Council in Western Australia - twelve were elected and six were nominated by the Governor.
This correspondence is significant in illustrating the interplay between the Governor and members of the Legislative Council in the administration of the colony during the transition period from the partially representative government model introduced in 1870 to the responsible government model introduced in 1890 with an elected Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council with nominated members.

Keywords

Robinson, William CF

Burt, Septimus

Hardey, Richard Watson

Glyde, George

Wines, Beer & Spirit Sale Act 1872

Western Australian Legislative Council

Place made

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Year

1877

Primary significance criteria