The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1896. WEST COAST LEAGUE.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 221, 16 October 1896, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1896. WEST COAST LEAGUE.

We are favored with another letter from Mr Elwin on the above subject, and regret for his sake that his total ignorance of Parliamentary procedure should have led him to make himself so ridiculous in the eyes of the public, especially as we understand he is an aspirant to Parliamentary honors. He may be able to humbug a number of innocent settlers who unwittingly place reliance in him, but, as we informed him in a previous issue, he will find it harder work to impose on us, as we flatter ourselves that we can see through him even without the aid of the X rays. We would willingly have suppressed his letter out of consideration for his ignorance, but with such men such a kindness would not be appreciated, therefore we publish it, and also the proof that he does not know what he is writing about, and leave the public to judge. Mr Elwin must not think because he has had two taps to Wellington, and has, metaphorically, rubbed noses with a number of members of Parliament there, that it necessarily follows he would acquire a knowledge of Parliamentary procedure, because such is not the case. To prove that the Fencing Bill 1895 was not in print before the League was formed he quotes dates. The first date is July 20th, when the League was formed at New Plymouth, and the 2nd 11th August, when the delegates started for Wellington. The next date is August 7th, when the Bill was reported from the Joint Agricultural aud Pastoral Committee ; on August 27th he says the Bill was introduced into the House and discussed in the lobbies ; and that on August 28th it was read and passed through Committee without amendment of importance. Mr Elwin, according to the above, is seemingly under the impression that the Bill emanated from the Joint Agricultural and Pastoral Committee, and that its fint appearance in the House was August 27th, when it began to permeate through the lobbies. Its first live appearance in the Housa, ace >iding to him, was the 28th of August, when it passed Committee without material amendment. Unfortunately for. Mr Elwia's reputation as a would-be truthful recorder, the records of Pariiamentaiy proceedings are embalmed in Hansard, and on reference to it we find on page 16 that the Fencing Bill 1895 was introduced into the House and read a first time on June 21st, as near as possible ono month before the League was formed. We hope that will satisfy him that wo knew what we were writing about. In case it should not, we refer him to page 137, July 23rd, when Mr J. McKenzie moved the second reading in the House. He said, in doing so, »If the second reading of the Bill was passed tonight, he would refer it then to the Agricultural and Stock Committee for consideration." and between 8 and 8.30 p.m. on that day (23rd July) it passed its second reading. It will therefore be seen that Mr El win's statement that it was introduced on August 27th is devoid of truth, as it had passed its second reading a month and foia days previously. Mr Ehviu has laid claim publicly to having had a good deal to do with getting it so drafted as to be a benefit to the lessees, but in his innocence or ignorance he supplies us with the evidence that such statements made by him had no foundation in fact. Ho admits that the delegates only left for Wellington on August 11th, and also admits that the Bill was reported from the Stock Committee on the 7th August, four days before they could have been in Wellington or have had anything to do with guiding or controlling its destinies, and to put the clincher on his own unreliability he gives the information that it passed on 28th August without amendment of importance. The next time Mr Elwin undertakes a " knock out " we strongly advise him to select an opponent possessed of less knowledge than himself—if he ca.n find one.