THE MEIKLE CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2234, 4 July 1908, Page 2

THE MEIKLE CASE.

' AN ACQUITTAL BILL. A GRANT OE £SOOO. [Special to “Times.”] . AYELLINGTON, July 3. The first' Bill in the list of the order of the diy was the -Meikle Acquittal Bill, the second reading of which was moved, bv .the Premier in a brief and well-balanced speech. There was, however, a very general and loud chorus of “Oil’s” when Sir Joseph Ward announced that the Governiheut proposed to make Meikle another grant amounting to £SOOO as a full discharge iu connection with the. case. The Bill, it will he .remembered, was strongly obstructed last session and eventually it was abandoned. The opponents to the measure again got quickly to work this session, and. Messrs Hornsby and Remington proposed to kill the Bill by reading .it d second time six months hence. Mr. Remington, speaking' to the proposal, said that while travelling in a'railway train a few weeks ago a gentleman made a statement to him that the Premier was going to bring in the Meikle Bill again this session and put it through the House whether members liked it or not. Sir Joseph AVard: AA’ho made that statement? Mr. Remington : Mr. John Hutchinson. Sir Joseph AVard : He has not seen me or spoken, to me on the subject. Mr. Remington: Ho said the local committee had. Sir Joseph. AVard: The local committee have not seen life. Mr. ■Remington:,.! am only,stating what Mr. - John Hutchinson told me. . - ' Sir .. Joseph AVardj speaking at a later stage in the debate, said the only one who had 6een him recently about the matter was Meikle himself, ■who had asked for an interview with him regarding his case. The second reading of the Bill was carried by 41 votes to 10. More strenuous opposition to the measure is anticipated during tho committee stage/ ;