Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 492, 3 December 1897, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

IN THE HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] [From our Special Reporter.] Wellington, This day. •JOHN MEIKLE's PETITION'. Though this afternoon was set apart for the consideration of local Bills, the nine such measures on the Order Paper were blocked by a debate springing up on the petition of John •J. Meikle, of Wyndham, which lasted till half-past five, it b-.-ing deliberately talked out by the Government supporters, and finally by the Minister of Lands himself. The Petitions Committee had reported that they had no further recommendations to make than those they brought down at a previous stage of the session, and which were referred back to them for reconsideration.

On the motion that the report be adopted, the Hon. G. F. Richardson moved as an amendment that the •recommendation in the 1895 committee's report, i.e., that Meikle's request to have his name struck oft' the prison records merited serious consideration and that the legal costs incurred in prosecuting Lambert (some £1800), in order to clear the petitioner's character, bo paid, and also any further compensation the House thought fit be confirmed. This amendment, which was opposed by the Government, would have been carried hut for being talked out by those opposed to Miekle's claim. JUDGE KETTLE'S CASE. In answer to the leader of the Opposition the Premier said that the correspondence which had passed between Judge Kettle and the Minister of Lands and the Justice Department would be laid on the table as soon as the correspondence was completed. Judge Kettle was to be furnished with a copy of Barnes' statement from which the Minister of ' Lands had quoted, and his Honor would no doubt reply to it, and on receipt of that reply the Minister of Justice after consultation with his colleagues would decide what course should be adopted, and the House would be informed later on as to how the matter stood. At the present juncture it was a question between a statement received by the Minister of Lands, which he gave to the House, and the Judge. ORDER OF BUSINESS. At the evening sitting the question of the order of business was raised, when the Leader of the Opposition suggested that the Premier should bring down the Public Works Stntemant on Tuesday, the Appropriation Bill on Thursday, and prorogue on Friday. BILL PASSED. The Wages Protection Bill was read a third time and passed. SECOND READING. The Technical Education Bill, Mining Company Act Amendment Bill, Water Supply Act Amendment Bill, and the Aliens Immigration Restriction Bill, were agreed to. The Westport Harbor Board Loan Bill and the Lyttelton Harbor Board Loan Bill were passed. The House rose at 12*80 a.m. MASTER AND APPRENTICES BILL. The Master and Apprentices Bill as amended by the Labor Bills Committee to-day, will meet many objections raised against its passage. The third schedule which arbitratily fixed the number of apprentices has been excised and the Arbitration Court is empowered to fix the number and declare what are skilled trades and any decision arrived at by the Court as to any particular is to apply to the whole of the colony and the decisions is to be final. The power is also given the Arbitration Court to reduce the term of indenture. OLD AGE PENSIONS. As a large number of members are determined to speak on the third reading of the Old Age Pension Bill, a lengthened debate is inevitable.