MR BATHGATE IS REPLY. TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,—l read with astonishmeut your assortion in this morning's Daily Times " that I had no more to do with It (• The Contractors' Debts Act, 1871') than my opponent, Captain Scott, who at that time had never seen .Nsw Zealand."
Permit me to state that tho Act originated with me, that I obtained & special work on tho American Lien Law for the purpose of preparing it, that I sueceedod in getting the Government of the clay to support it, and that the draft was finally settled by the Attorne3'-general and myself before being introduced to Parliament. The debate in the Lower Houso took place when the bill was 'in Committeo, when I stoutly defended its details. A friend of mine has remiuded me this afternoon of my telling him after my return Home, iv 1871, "that I had had a tough fight over tha bill in Committee." Bare you contradict those statomontß ?—I am, &c, John Batiioats. Dunedin, Decembor Bth. [Wo cannot contradict Mr Bithgate's statemonts, but thero is no record whatevor In " Hansard " of hia connection with tho bill. Tho Hon. Mr Sewell, in introducing it, said the bill was taken from measures In forcoln Victoria and Tasmania.—Ed. O. D. T.]
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18811209.2.23
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 6189, 9 December 1881, Page 4
Word Count
208MR BATHGATE IS REPLY. TO THE EDITOR. Otago Daily Times, Issue 6189, 9 December 1881, Page 4
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in