CHRISTCHURCH GAS BILL.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7355, 6 July 1889, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH GAS BILL.

[Bt Tslbgbaph.]

[from owb, special correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 5.

I mentioned yesterday that a technical) question had been raised in the Local Bills; Committee as to the Christchurch Empowering Bill being a private Bill, which, if carried, would, of course, shelve it for this session. It was subsequently decided to lay the BUI before the Speaker to obtain his opinion whether it ought to be referred to. the Joint Committee of both Houses on Bills. The Speaker thought it would be better to take this course, as there seemed to be conbiderable doubt on the question. Accordingly the Local Bills Committee adjourned the Bill until Thursday next, and meanwhile it was sent to the Joint Committee, which sat to-day and went into the matter at some length. Counsel on both sides, Messrs Bell and Edwards, appeared, and argued the case very folly. Ultimate!* the Committee adjoume : till Monday tf consider their decision, which is expected | by some of the more experienced members to be. adverse to the Bill. The point ia this: The Standing Orders define as af private Bill {inter alia), one that directly! affects the interests of individuals. Now it! is held that the Christchurch Gas Company' being a collection of individuals may be held directly affected by the Bill, and section 369 of the Municipal Corporations Act] [requires expressly that a Council going! jinto gasworks where there is already a| having an empowering Act must! lining in a special Bill to enable them. Mr 1 |Bell contends that "special" means in ttea connection, but I hear $his is Unlikely to be sustained. The Spirit, however, of both the Act and Standing Orders seems held to be thai such a Bill 4e this should be treated as a private one.