PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12629, 17 October 1905, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 16 The House met at 7.30.

FIRST READING. The Landless Natives Bill (Duncan) was read a first time.

THE MEIKLE CASE

Mr Seddon made a statement with .regard to die Meikle ca>se. He said the Government had decided to appoint a Commission to go thoroughly into the «case, and also to enquire into the matter of the first compensation paid to Meikle, what led-thereto, and how the discharge Avas granted. Therefore, Mr ;Seddon remarked, it was understood that that payment was final and that it was satisfactory to all pan-ties cono&nied. The Commission would also investigate .the matter of costs incurred by Meikle in "connection with the whole of the action. If necessary legislation would be to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission. With regard to the claim that Meikle's name be •struck off the prison records of the colony, Mr Seddon went on to say that the Government (bad searched precedents .and had found tliait in a case (the Beck© case) that had occurred some time ago at Home the pea-son who was wrongfully imprisoned had received £5000 compensation, but nothing whatever had been .done by the Imperial Government in the direction of interfering with the records. He repeated that the Government would be prepared to act on the recommendations of .the Commission, and he hoped it would never again be >said that the Government ihad acted either harshly or unjustly in the Meikle ■oa&e. In reply to several questions Mr Sed*don said it was the desire of the Government that the Commission should report as soon as possible, font he did not think there was any ohonce of the report being received before the session closed. The Government wanted the Commission to thoroughly investigate every phase of the oase. MORNING SITTINGS. Mr Seddon gave notice to move that on Wednesday and on every alternate day thereafter until the close of the ..session, the House meet at 11 a.m. NEW BILLS. The Lean Bill and Inspection of Private Hospitals Bill were introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. ORDER OF BUSINESS. In reply to iMr Maissey, Mr Seddon csaid he hoped to take the debate on the Loan Bill arid Public Works Statement on Wednesday night. The amendments made by the Legislative Council dn the Shops and Offices Bill were set down fcr consideration next •■day. The Public Works Compilation Bill (Hall Jones) was read a second time pro forma and sent to the Statutes Revision The Industrial Coneilation and Arbitration Acts Compilation Bill (Seddon), Kaiapoi Native Reserve Bill (Seddon), Lincoln College Reserve Bill (Seddon), and Taranaki Scholarships Bill (Seddon) were o-ead a second time on the voices. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Mr Seddon moved the second reading -of the Workers' Compensation for Acoi.dents Bill, which provides (1) That the weekly payment in respect for compensation for total or partial disablement .shall not be less than £1 per week in •every case where the worker's ordinary rate of pay for the work at which he was employed at the time of the accident was not less than 30s per week, and (2) that the compensation payable "in any case of total or permanent partial incapacity may in lieu of weekly payments be such lump, sum as is agreed upon at any time by the parties or •as the Arbitration Court determines. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill referred to the Labour Balls Committee with,, an. instruc--iion to report on Friday. '' . j INDUSTRIAL CONOIX-fATION AMD, : ARBITRATION. :' j ■*. Mr Seddon'moved t!he second, reading", •of the Indusifcrial Cbhoiliati^n''fend Arbitration Amendment:-*'B.ilL :;Mauy >of the proposals in the Bill, he said, we're -what t&e; Presidentxof. vtihe Court cbn--sidered necessary. v ;->.:'-•;; I'H7 # j The Bill was, oread; a second^me -and referred to the Labour Billsj^ommfttee. EPUNL LEASES SUfeRMJIER;. i .-* Mr Duncan moved the seoon^ xeadiiigi; •of the Epuni /Leases .Surrender; Bill", H:<K •provide for the sections! mV the Epujni settlement being sub-divided; ijso lessor ;areas. . ;■'..", ' '.." ... '."",'.. ,L ';. ['*> Mr Maasey said -BilT acknowledged-. tihe principle that ':*s%&■ Qp^psjiiOn ih^div been contending'fot all^tmigjviz, tfojafcii the surrender value of the leasehold ber:; longed to the tenant and net to the Orown. • . ;-..'. ';; 9«\'\ '^}}l\ i The second leading; was.'agreed to on i>he voices. -.■.-., .*' THE VICTORIA COLLEGE iBILLJ The Victoria College' Bill (Mr Seddon) -and the Education, Reserves Bill (Mr "Seddon) were a"©ad; a second time on the -voices. WAIKAKA EAILWAY. Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of the Waikaka Branch Railway Bill, which authorises the construction «ot the Waikaka Railway by the Government on locally-raised money. Objection was raised to this district specially favoured, and Mr. Hawkins moved to kill the Bill, but this was lost on the voices, and the second reading was carried on the voices. MINING. On a motion for the committal of -the Mining Amendment Bill, Mr. Herries complained that the Bill did not afford sufficient encouragement to the mining industry. He was afraid 'also that the Bill would be a dead letter, as it contained no appropriation to .enable the Minister to lend money to companies desirous of promoting the industry. Mr. Herdman regretted that the Minister had not seen his way to provide greater facilities for prospecting. Mr. James Allen complained of want of assistance to the mining industry, which was now dead because of the failure of the Minister to do anything :to help it. Mi1. McGowan said there would bi> better provision in several respects for the mining industtry than had ever bel'oro been attempted by the New Zealand Parliament. Further than that, there was no Minister for Mines in New Zealand who had caused the expenditure of so much money on gold mining as he (Mr. McGowan) had done The committal was agreed to. Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of the Factories Act, 1901, Amendment Bill, which provides—(l) that every person of the age of 20 years or over'who has bean employed in a factory for not less than four years, shall bo entitled to a wage of not less than 17s. per week, aud (2) that a person under 20 years of age shall be paid a wage of ss. a week during the first year of his employment, with an anKua lincrease of 3s. per week until he reaches 20 years.—This was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Labour Bills Committee to report by Friday. Mr. Seddon moved the second reading •of the Gerald John Mueller Enabling Bill, Avhich is promoted for the purpose of enabling Mr. Mueller to get a pension under the Cvil Service Act. In the course of considerable discussion, the claims of Mr. Beetham, ex"S.M. at Christchurcli, were advocat- ; ed, and Mr. Seddon said that an application had been made by Mr. Stratford. ex-S.M., to bring his case before the Courts. If this case Avas adjudicated upon favourably by the Courts, the

Government would bring in a Bill dealing with his case and the case of Mr. Beetham. The second reading was carried by 46 votes to 10. Mr. Seddon intimated that next Wednesday morning's sitting would be devoted to the consideration of local Bills.