Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 4

It will be seen that the Legislative Council last night took a vigorous step with regard to the Codlin Moth Bill, and threw it out altogether. The Lords declined to refer the measure to a, Select Committee, which was suggested by the Hon. Mr. .Stevens, who had it in charge, and gave it the happy despatch by 15 to 10. This is another example of how the Legislative Council baa withstood hurried and imperfect legislation, has looked calmly and rationally at the proposals made, and has more correctly measured public sentiment than lias the Lower Chamber. It is true they had the advantage over the House of Representatives of receiving better information respecting the feeling in the country, but then the House deprived itself of that guidance by rushing through the Bill with quite unnecessary haste. In a Bill of this nature, involving the creation cf a number of officials who would have the power to enter the premises of any man who had a garden and give him orders regarding tho conduct of his own business, and involving also the imposition of a new tax, the greatest care should have been exercised. Those who promoted the Bill should have made quite sure that the great majority of those to be affected by the Bill were thoroughly in accord with its provisions. They did nothing of the kind, but got the Bill passed without seeking to elicit an opinion. Before the orchardists of this part of the colony, at all events, knew anything about the matter, the Codlin Moth Bill was in the Upper House. Fortunately, the majority of the Legislative Councillors were wise enough to delay rho measure, and thus those interested got time to express their opinion. Tin's ha 3 been done with such effect that last night nothing remained for the Council but to throw out the Bill