The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 734, 26 October 1876, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1876.

Ouk readers will remember that two Bills were introduced during the present session of the Assembly, which evidenced a laudable desire on the part of that body to deal with subjects of great interest to the welfare of the general public. We refer to the Coroners’ Act Amendment Bill and the Art Unions and Lotteries Bill. Both these measures were calculated to be productive of good, and it is matter for regret that they have been included in the slaughter of the innocents. Of the necessity which exists for legislation in the direction proposed there can be no doubt. The Coroners’ Act, particularly, was one which the experience of nearly every day proved to be faulty in its construction, more especially in the points proposed to be remedied by the Bill bow dropped. It proposed, among other things, to reduce the number of jurymen, and to do away with the necessity of calling together a jury in cases where no suspicious circumstances existed. Such a Bill would have been of great use, and therefore its fate is the more to be deplored. In the case of the second, also, strong reasons existed for its becoming law. The numerous devices for raising money under the specious guise of being for a good cause, which exist in connection, more especially, with religious denominations, are scarcely creditable to such institutions, and it was high time, if the good taste of those interested did not suggest it, that they were abolished by legislative enactment. This the Bill proposed to do, while encouraging the distribution by legitimate means, and under proper restrictions, of works of art, &c. The lotteries, raffles, &c., which form so large a feature in the bazaars projected in aid of church funds, are, as we have before pointed out, highly objectionable ; not perhaps as such, but as connected with objects of this character. The result of the Bill, had it become law, would have been to have exercised a salutary check on what has become almost an evil. Besides this, it would have had a wider application, in putting a stop to the many incentives to gambling offered by what are called soirees and sweeps on races. In this direction the B ill would, without in any way being oppressive, have been productive of much good. Bor these and other reasons, therefore, it is matter for sincere regret that the attempt on the part of the Government to initiate legislation on social subjects so urgently needed has been frustrated. It is only another result of the obstructionist policy pursued by a small section of the House during the session, which, in other more important matters, has been productive of injurious effects to the interests of the colony. The time of the House and the colony has been wasted in the most extravagant manner, without the least hope of a practical outcome, and the result is that measures which are of great importance are either, as in this case, shelved, or passed with but slight discussion, out of sheer weariness. We hope that, notwithstanding the failure of legislation on the subjects referred to this session, the Government will not lose sight of their importance, but will in the next session take steps to carry them to a practical conclusion.