PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8958, 25 October 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, October 24. In tho Council which met at 2.30 Mr Jenkinson gave notice of tho following motion: "That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the Government should bo. represented by liioro than one Minister in tho Council." The Coal Mines Act Amendment LiU was road a third time and passed. Tho Animals Protection Bill was further considered in committee, and progress was reported. The Council rose at 4.55.

House of Representatives

Por Press Association. "Wellington, October 2-1. P The House met at 3.30. The Native Affairs Oominitteo reported it had 110 recommendation to uiako 011 tlio petition of a number of Europeans at Utiku, praying that the House would this session pass legislation to permit of the purchaso ofnativo townships for tho purpose of their conversion into town lauds; with tho option of the freehold. _ Mr Remington urged that native leases were unsatisfactory, and greatly retarded settlement, Mr Massey contended that t-lip native townships along tho North Island railway were greatly crippled by tho fact that a uativo lease was tho oulv tenure. It was, ho said, tiie duty of tho Government to givo a lead "in the matter. Natives and Europeans were anxious to make an arrangement whicls*would be to tho 1 interest of both parties, but tho existing law prevented this being acI complished. Mr Ell asked why members did not demand the freehold for lessees in other towns who hold lauds under harrassing conditions.' Ho was sick of cant and humbug, and characterised tho idea that tho peoplo would not build on leasehold lands as rot. He instanced tho cases of King's Chambers, Willis street, ■Wellington, and the reclaimed laud. Tho'Hon. Carroll said tho time had arrived when it was urged that native townhips should bo sold Ht order that residents might be able to earrv out necossary sanitary works. That was a fair and valid claim, but what tho Government desired was that tho claim should bo put forward by tho native owners, and when that was done "no was propared to consider tho matter. Tho power of tmreluiso of native interests, ho "added, already existed under tho Act of 18'.)5, but before takin" - any action lie should like to be fully seized of tho facts from tho uativo point of viosv, in order that ho might know what they considered would be best for their interests. After other members had spoken tho report was ordered to lio on tho table. The House went into Comnntteo on tho Meiklo Acquittal Bill. The House adjourned at 5.530. Tho House resumed at v.ISO. Mr Horusby submitted that tho Committoo should be very careful how they went against tho ComS mission's* report, and ho contended thov wore going against the Commission in the proposals of tho Bill. The Commissioners had suggested that the legislation should be general iu its terms, and not limited to tho claimant, but this mcasuro was a private one, limited to the case of the claimant, and the House ought to bo careful what was done- in tho matter. Mr Remington also urged tiiat tho House should be careful in regard to the Bill. He proposed to read A portion of the evidence, commencing at pago 445, and would like the Chairman's ruling as to whether galleries could be cleared. The Chairman ruled it was competent for the member to move a motion. Mr Massey said it had been ruled that the ladies' gallery was no part of the House. Mr Remington moved that strangers bo reouestod to withdraw. The House divided and tho motion was defeated by 35 to 15. Mr Fisher said members had tho evidence before thorn, and could read it equallv as well as tho Hon. Member for Rangitikei. Ho contended the evidence was not material to the Bill, and lie characterised tho proposal to read tho evidenco as be ins f or the purpose of prejudicing and damning the man referred to in tho Bill. Ho congratulated tho Minister on the Bill, which was designed to grant justice to a man who iiad been seeking it for twenty years. Mr Barclay contended that Mr Remington had been unfairly referred to by Mr Fisher Mr Remington contended that a verdict of innocent had not been found for Meikle, and as Mr Remington was against tho Bill ho claimed the right to quote from tho evidence in support of his views. Mr Lewis contended that if Mr Remington's object was to educate the public as to tho history of tho case bv having it reported in Hansard, the object would not be attained, as the House, being iu Committee, tho proceedings would not be reported. The Premier said it was almost impracticable to place on the Statute Book a general measure, as had been suggested. Mr Horusby : Tiie Commissioners point out how it is to bo done. Tiie Premier replied that the Government had couisdered the question, and could not see its way to introduce a general Bill. The Government was endeavouring to aivo effect to the Commissioners' suggestion. Tiio better plan was to bring down separate aud independent legislation, aud tiie question before the House iiad nothing to do with the evidence given before the Commission. Tiie Royal Commission had made a recommendation favour - ! able tojMeikle, and therefore'jhe could not see why evidence should be gone back upon. He hoped the Bill would bo put on the Statute Book. Exception had been taken by one gentleman to the proposal for the Committee to be set'up to determine | the question of compensation. He | (the Premier) would see that gentleman.

Mr Horusby: Is that not a breach of privilege for auyore to take objection to a member of Committee? The Premier said there was really nothing serious in it. Ho thought that the objection was a valid one, and was sure the member referred to would not mind in the least. Mr Remington said he would treat Mr Fisher's" reference to himself ■with the contemnt which it de-

served. . Mr Remington expressed his intention to read from the evidence, and ladies immediately left the gallery. Mr A. L. D. Fraser, in .opposing the Bill, said he sympathised with the Premier in the position in which he found himself. The Premier was only doing his duty, but he (Mr Fraser) would not vo'te for the Bill in its present form. He asked the Premier how much did the Crown pay for the defence of Meikle before the Royal Commission, to whom, and what amount. He also wanted to know something about the little syndicate. He contended members of the House were being made niarrionattes of by a little "team outside, who were not friends of the country. Mr Hornsbv would not like to think Ministers had taken fright at the noise that li» t been made by a certain section of the 'community. S Mr Wilford wanted to know where were all the friends of Meikle. So far. overv swaker had spoken against Meikle. 'Was it to be inferred there was nothing to bo said on his behalf? Because, if so, the Government had no right to bring down such a measure. This reminded him of a re-hash of the Drevfns ease. Whether Meikle was guilty or not, the finding of the Judges went to show that the evidence was not such that if the Commission had boon a ro-trial thev would have been toumi to direct the jury that it would have been proper to acqnit Meikle. $ Mr Lawrr said ho thought tho matter had reached finality when Meiklo signed a receipt for £SOO and exonerated the Government from any further liability.

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