THE TWENTY EIGHTH CLAUSE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 202, 10 March 1866, Page 3

THE TWENTY EIGHTH CLAUSE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE " DUXSTAN TIMES." Sir,—l have just seen your leading article of the 24th February, and feel bound, on behalf of myself and my late colleague for the Goldfields to refute the entirely unfounded charge brought against us that either through indifference or coalition with the squatters, we allowed Section 28 to be introduced into the Goldfields Act, 18 Go.

The facts of the case are simply these— The Bill was drawn up by a Select Committe of both Houses, and entirely against the opinions and votes of Mr Brodie and myself, a clause similar to 28 was introduced. When the Bill came before the House of Representatives we succeeded in striking out the obnoxious clause in Committee of the whole House. The Bill thus amended went up in due course to the Legislative Council, who re-introduced the clause, and sent the Bill down again. The House, on the representation of the Goldfields members, refused to accept the Bill, and a conference of both Houses was appointed to endeavor to effect a compromise. The members of the House of Representatives were Mr Dillon Bell, the Attorney-General, Mr Brodie, and myself. The Legislative Council nominated four of its members to meet us. Several long I discussions took place, and finally, the j cltiuse in its present form v;>s adopted by i G out of the 8 members of the Conference j—the Goldfields members being dissen ! tients. No doubt we could have induced | the Lower House to reject the report of jthe Conference—then the whole Bill I would have lapsed, and as many important ' measures are included in it, and many j valuable privileges secured, we did not j feel justified in adopting that course. I i may further state that the clause really | affects but little the existing Goldfields, jand that the sudden agitation upon the subject may easily be traced to the visit of two of the political opponents of the late members for the Goldfields.

I remain, Sir, Your obedient Servant. CH. E. HAUGHTON