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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 247, 21 October 1867, Page 3

The Abolition of Arrest Bill, which it was supposed would be passed during the session jnst terminated, was sht-lved in the Legislative Council. We take from the Parliamentary Hansard the following account of the manDer in which its fate •was sealed by the 'Lords': — The Hon. Mr Acland moved the second reading of this bill, hut would not object to an amendment that it be read that day six months. Its object was to abolish imprisonment lor debt; and a bill for doing that had certainly passed during the present session of the Imperial Parliament; hut he did not think there was any necessity for following English legislation rapidly, as circumstances here were very different. He regarded the power of arrest as a wholesome check on the proceedings of men who, here, were so apt to run into rckless trading, and incur debts without any probability of paying them. Another reason for not passing the bill •was that it and the Resident Magistrates' Act, which they had so carefully considered, would be diametrically opposed in their provisions. The AttorneyGeneral had no great feeling one way or the other ; aud considered it doubtful what the effect of twe conflicting bills, passed during one session, would be; but thought that the latter, being a separate Act, wauld override the provisions of the Resident Magistrates' Act. But the idea of such a conflict would not be creditable to the good sense of the Council. The Hon. Dr Buchanan moved that the bill be re&d a second time that day six months. The Hon. Dr Meqzies seconded the motion. In a country where there was -so much reckless trading, the idea of removing such a wholesome check as the power of arrest would be most injurious.