Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

THE NEWS OF THE DAY.
The Squatters have at last succeeded in having
their Bill read a second time in the House : but
the Opposition have also had the satisfaction of
exposing its provisions before the country. The
debate was re-opened by Mr Sladen, and the
principal speakers in opposition to the Bill, were
Mr Myles, Mr Read and Dr Owens. Upon a
division the second reading was carried by a
majority of 32 against 22. Upon the second
reading of the bill, Mr Moore took the extra
ordinary course of moving it at once into com-
mittee. This was very naturally opposed by
Mr Duffy, Mr O'Shanassy, and other members
of the Opposition, as unjustifiable in itself and
contrary to parliamentary usage.
Not the least remarkable result of the debate
is the conversion of Professor Gunnybags. The
Professor has formally declared that the land
must not be handed over to the squatters in
perpetuity, as is proposed by the present
Bill. "Legislation (he says) must secure, in
language express, distinct, and beyond the
power of special pleading to mystify it, that on
what conditions soever the waste lands of the
colony are allowed to be used for grazing pur-
poses, they remain the property of the State
and the trust of the Government, and that at
any time, for any public purpose , the Executive
Government shall have full power to resum ethem"
We are glad to observe that the Post-office
authorities are really commencing those reforms
which the public have so long been demanding
in vain. Night mails are to be despatched to
Ballaarat and Bendigo after the first of July;
and a mail is to proceed to the Buckland every
Further measures of this land, we understand,
will be shortly announced.
The contest for East Bourke has commenced
in earnest, and at the nomination yesterday the
candidates made the usual confession of their
political faith. Mr Le Soeuff goes in for industrial
and educational progress generally, and he con-
siders the present Bill before the House quite ina-
dequate to a satisfactory settlement of the Land
Question. Mr M'Dermott is ah enthusiastic advo-
cate for independence — but he will support the
Haines Administration to any extent, and
he boasts of the part he took in threat-
threatening the O'Shanassy Cabinet. "He was
the advocate of the people's cause ; that cause had
triumphed at the last election, and that through
his instrumentality, for had it not been for his
exertions Mr. Heales would not have been re-
turned, and a Government not possessing the con-
fidence of the people would not have been hurled,
from power. Dr. Greeves avows himself to be
dead against the Squatting Bill, and declares that
it is upon that understanding he expects the
electors to return him at the top of the poll.
Whatever the ultimate issue may be, the result
of yesterday's show of hands was decidedly in
favor of Mr. Le Soueff. A poll was demanded, of
course ; and the contest is fixed for the 25th
instant. -
The Melbourne Criminal Sessions terminated
yesterday ; and it may have been observed that
the calendar was unusually free from crimes of
the more serious description. The array of de-
pravity was strikingly " Colonial ;" however,
there being two or three cases of "sticking-up,"
several robberies of dissipated men by "unfortu-
nate women ;" and a considerable sprinkling
of that favorite pastime of the Colonial thief —
horse and cattle stealiing.
In Tasmania, just now, the settlement of the
Land Question seems to be the chief topic of
political interest, — probably stimulated by our
own agitation upon the subject, but certainly
precipitated by the annual Government notice in
the Gazette, stating the terms upon which Tas-
manian squatters may obtain a renewal of their
licenses. The journals seem to be taking up the
question very earnestly. "Parliament will, after
the recess, be compelled to deal conclusively
with the waste lands," (says a Tasmanian
contemporary.) "At least there is a clear stage.
With no extraneous interference from Downing
street, no thwarting of the 'circumlocution')
office." They have an absolute power of adminis-
tering, to the best advantage of the people here
and in the United Kingdom, their own landed
estate. The question is vital, and perhaps, under
existing circumstances, the gravest that presents
itself. Now, we ask, where is the greatest in-
ducement held out to the intending emigrant ?
Will he come to Tasmania, sixteen thousand
miles off, with no navigable rivers, a distant and
uncertain market, where land can only be had at
a hazardous 'auction' competition— at 20s. an
acre 'upset' price — where he has no certain pro-
tection against the resident monopolist ? Or will
he not go to America, 5000 miles off, with good
land, watered by navigable streams, a certain
market, at a fixed price per acre of 4s. 6d., per
fect independence of monopolists, and an instant
and valid ' title deed ? ' We ask our legislators
how they can hope to people the land if they
' discourage' instead of ' encouraging' an influx
of farming men and families ! "
$