Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1207, 27 December 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1871.

•The adjourned discussion in the Auckland Provincial Council on Mr Hani" lin's motion, "That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to proclaim the Diseased .Cattle Acts in operation as regard-, the landing of cattle in this province," took place on Thursday last, 21st inst. It will be remembered that we took occasion to make a few remarks on the introduction of the motion, showing that its intention was not to protect the Auckland cattle from any danger of infection from the introduction of diseased cattle, but to protect the Auckland graziers from the competition of imported cattle. During the adjourned debate Mr Mitchell took occasion to show that such was the case. B> is reported to have s-aid—" Looking at the enlightened spirit of the country .settlers, and indeed diffeient sections of the community— one retaliating against the other—it was just possible to comprehend the reason for such a proposal. There was not the slightest reason to suspect diseased cattle coming from Australia, and he believed the same applied to the other provinces of New Zealand."" Mr Hamlin appeared to be somewhat ashamed of the false position in which he had placed himself. He said, "He was endeavoring to represent public opinion as far as he could collect it." When asked by the Protection League whether lie could bring forward the question of protection before the Council, he had replied " that it was impossible," and he had done "the only thing that could be (lone." On the

question being put to tlie Council the pjotion was lost by the narrow majority pi' ono, .'the miiubers- being—for Mr Hapjlin's raotion, 7 ; against it. B,_ It

is well that even by such a ,small ma-

jority the Auckland Council has saved itself from becoming ridiculous in the eyes of the rest of the Colony. Although the Protectionists have been de feated so far as regards the prohibition of the importation of s-tock, they will probably succeed in getting an increased duty placed upon their importation.