The Inangahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1180, 9 October 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times PUBLISHED TRI -WEEKLY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1882.

As has been previously stated during the last session of Pariiame.nt, there were no less than 112 Acts, including two or three private onf3s, passed, and amongst this number there were none that the Acting Governor thought necessary to reserve for Imperial sanction. He therefore, on behalf of her Majesty at once assented to them, and they became law a day or two after the prorogation. Promptitude in all things is generally highly desirable, and especially meritorious- in officials of whatever degree, but in the present case, it is questionable whether on this occasion the exercise of the virtue may not be attended with some complications. In the measures referred to, nearly every question was touched on, and consolidations or amendments of a very large number of most important Acts previously in force were affected. Some exceedingly radical changes were eflected in many, for example, in the Justices of the Peace Act, the powers of the magistracy were, enormously increased, and the scope of jurisdiction vastly enlarged. Several other Acts have been, so to speak, turned inside out, and the law in a great many particulars has undergone very material and essential revision. But many of those administering the law when the acts were approved of had no means of knowing what the changes Avere, inasmuch as the then amended statutes were not printed, and therefore they could only go on with the old ones in their possession, in many cases no doubt determining cases on clauses of Acts that had been swept away from the statute book. Those who may feel themselves possibly aggrieved at decisions, when the new legislation is obtainable in printed form, will no doubt in many cases take measures to upset the objectionable ruling, and endless litigation may arise. The hurry in which the amended acts have been brought into, force, will be especially hard on magistrates in country districts, for they have no opportunity whatever of becoming acquainted with the changes made. Honorary magistrates moreover, have their business to attend to, and for some time will be placed somewhat in a dilemma till relieved by the publication of the statutes of 1882. Had Sir James Prender^ast been a little less prompt, and not allowed the acts to come into operation till they were printed, and generally circulated, the time lost would not have been of material moment, whilst any possible difficulty in regard to illegal administration would have been impossible^ It is to be hoped therefore, that the Government will lose no time in pushing on the publication, so that the unpleasant and uncertain state of things may be put q.n end to as speedily as possible.