The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1882. The Latest Laws.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 784, 3 November 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1882. The Latest Laws.

TOWN EDITION. [lamed at 4.55 p.m. ■

The statutes passed during the last session of the New Zealand Parliament form a bulky volume of close on a thousand pages—a mass of measures enough to bewilder the average student anxious to keep himself posted in the laws of the land he lives in ; indeed it will probably take a considerable time before the enactments of last session are “digested” by the public to any purpose. The delayed appearance of the statutes gave rise to much dissatisfaction and a considerable amount of inconvenience, for it placed certani public functionaries in the anomalous position of being ignorant of the laws they were called upon to administer. The history of the past session is a curious one. For many weeks literally nothing was done, and then, to use a sporting phrase, the measures came with a rush, somewhat to the astonishment of the public and the satisfaction of the Opposition, who groaned much about “ hasty legislation,” and protested indignantly at the reckless manner in which measures were being “ rushed through Parliament." And yet, hasty as the legislation was, a large number of valuable enactments were passed, and if time was wasted the fault must be laid at the door of the Opposition, whose lack of unity and lack of sense retarded the business and caused many vexatious delays. The Local Government Acts are highly important measures, and much curiosity apparently exists as to how they will work. The Loan Bills possess a melancholy interest for believers in the axiom that he who goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing. However, the sorrowing should in this instance be reduced to a.minimum, for the Bills have been so framed that the money cannot very well be squandered on useless and unproductive works. The Bills having legal reform for their object are worthy of note. People with a taste for going to law will be able to indulge in that luxury at a cheaper rate than formerly,

attd litigation (especially as associated with Supreme Court actions) will be less cumbersome as well as less costly than heretofore. What the effect will be of clearing away many of the obstacles that have hitherto beset the path of the aspirant for legal honors remains to be seen. Our impression is that quack law will be found to be quite as unsatisfactory as quack medicine. It will injure the prospects of the profession as it now exists, and tend to lower its dignity without holding out any corresponding advantage. The Tea Adulteration Act was framed expressly to protect the interests of the lovers of the exhilarating but not intoxicating cup. The Cemeteries Act contains a special clause sanctioning cremation when a wish to be cremated is shewn in the will of a deceased person. So much for a very brief review of some of the latest batch of the country’s laws, tp which we shall return at an early period.