The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 332, 24 August 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868.

The present Postmaster-General, Mr Hall has achieved a political reputation on the most slender foundation, and his first legislative bantling, in the shape of the Public Offences Bill, has very properly been assailed from all sides of the House, though it is quite possible that it will pass in a somewhat considerably mutilated shape. At the same time, when the very existence of the Government of which Mr Hall is a member, was jeopardi ed, public attention was not directed specially to this measure, which has been truly execrated throughout the colony. Its ostensible object is to create uniformity in police offences throughout the colony, but its real effect will be to create a kind of police despotism that cannot fail to prove other than highly objectionable to everyone within its range of operation. We know at present that certain districts actually require greater laxity in dealing with minor offences than others, for instance the stringent rules that would be suitable and even required in large established cities, would be absurd in some of the digging towns, but this bill, if passed in its entirety, will place all on equal terms, and what is more will compel the police to stringently carry out its provisions where it has been proclaimed. This latter condition is a fortunate one for the goldfields, for no Executive in their senses would expect such an Act to be applicable or even tolerable amongst a digging community. At the same time, itis possible that some enthusiastic authority or other on this Western side of the island might take a fit of activity, and by some means or other procure its proclamation, so it is just as well that that the public should at least have an outline of a few of its provisions. The first part is intended to apply to special localities, and the second has reference to the general provisions of the measure. Under these, offenders or alleged offenders may be arrested without warrant, either by a constable or the owner of the property with respect to which the offence is committed, and brought before a Magistrate, but they are not to be detained more than forty hours. The penalties vary from 10s to £5. The offences set down, and consequently the possible offenders, are legion, and should be left as has been suggested, to be dealt with

by the local or municipal authorities, without the General Government stooping to legislate on such trifles. Their doing so is the elephant picking up pins. For instance, the above fines are to be enforced for wheeling any barrow or carriage, baby vehicles clearly coming under the latter denomination, on the footpath; dragging timber on the road or footpath, allowing eaves to drip water ou the footpath, for affixing placards to any house, for rolliug casks in the streets, or for beating carpets within some distance of a thoroughfare. Breaking in horses in streets is another tabooed practice, and rightly too. No less than twenty five sections follow with a multiplicity of offences contained, from which we may take flying kites, using bows and arrows, obstructing roads or footpaths by having meat over the footway, exposing horses for sale or hire in a public thoroughfare, and a variety of other matters not necessary to detail. We have alone stated that the police will be compelled to carry the Act stringently out, should it unfortunately become law, because special provision is made in a special clause, that if any constablo

does not use bis best endeavours to apprehend and convey before some Justice any person so offending he sball be deemed to have been guilty of neglect of duty, and sball be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds. In addition to the above, a Sunday afternoon clause, that would bavo deligbted the Puritan heart, whereby the severest penalties wero impossed on wicked people, who believe that Sunday was intended by the Supreme Being, rather as a holiday than a day of penance, and who act in their belief has been thrown out in the early sta<»e. Altogether though great modifications have already been made, though the penalties in many cases have been reduced, still it is certain that it is a most objectionable measure, and one that will create much discontent amongst the New Zealand pop ulation, should it become law, and but a shadow of its former self. All the petty offences to which its administration will apply, can be fifty times better dealt with by local authority, and we must say that Mr Hall's "Westland blunders have been by no means retrieved by the production of suchapaltry and busybody measure as the one referred to.