PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2219, 24 October 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct 22. The Legislative Council received from the Lower House the Land Laws Amendment Bill. ‘ It was read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for Tuesday next. On the proposition that a select comniitteo should be appointed, tlio At-torney-General promised to go into the question.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

In moving the second reading of the Meikle Acquittal Bill, the Premier read the report of tlio Royal Commission in which it said that had the proceeding been a re-trial of complainant they would have felt it necessary to direct his acquittal. The Bill proposed to remove -from the records the record that Meikle was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment bv providing that judgment should he reversed and deemed to have been made after the Bill had passed the second reading. He proposed to ask the House to set up a special committee to enquire what compensation, if any, should be paid to Meikle.

Mr. Massey sympathised with tlio Bill, but in the ensuing discussion there was some difference of opinion. A motion by Mr. Rutherford that the Bill ho read this day six months was defeated, and the second reading passed by 42 to 12. The House met at 2.30. WELLINGTON, Oct. 23. QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions, the Minister stated' that designs sent in to the Colonial Secretary for a coa.t-of-arms for the Dominion were receiving careful consideration; at this period of the session there was little ■probability that the House can lind sufficient time to deal satisfactorily with a hill dealing with model bylaws. under file circumstances it may he found necessary to allow it to'stand over till next year; that when tlio Government is dealing with amendments to the Shipping and Seamen’s Act the question of permitting vessels, 15 or 20 tons, engaged in the fishing 'industry to utilise oil engines without requiring for them n certificated engineer, will receive consideration; that the Government is fully alive to the requirements of the people of New Zealand both in the matter of the acquisition of estates under the Land for Settlements Act, suitable for close settlement, and as regards the opening up of Crown land; the latter cannot bo mado available nioro expeditiously than at present, as already 700,000 acres of rural land is under survey and 230,000 acres of native land are being surveyed h.v the Lands Department for Maori Land Boards for settlement purposes. Tho Premier also. stated that special attention was being given to anaesthetics in the drafting of the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill ; as soon as the Bill becomes law better control will he set uii. BBWSB'BS. lu the evening the House continued the debate on the National Endowment Bill, some of the Southern members co|itending that the South Island had to provide nearly the whole of the proposed endowment lands, vis., 74 million acres, as against- If in the North Island.