HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVIII, Issue 4362, 3 December 1897, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. . THB PUBLIC WOKU HTaTSHSNT. Tho Premier replying to Captain Ruseett intimated that the PubEo Works Statement would be brought down early next w««k « possible. TKFPETITIOK OF J. J. MIIICLB. The Public Petitions Committee repotted that they saw no reason to altar too decision enviously arrived at in the case of J. J, Meikle. ,;., Mr Richardson moved as an amendment _,__**_^_! D £ rt fche ***** Ha on the table, that the Committee's report of 1896. recommending that Meikle's law costs J» paid and that he be given compensation for bis wrongful imprisonment, be givon effect -to. - After a lengthy debate, the Premier said that the only oonrse open, to the Government was to act on tbe recommendation of this yj« r" Committee., If the report were allowed to lie on the table, it would give the Government an opportunity to consider thi matter from an unbiassed standpoint, v The debate was interrupted by the 5.10 p.m. adjournmentt : ■ .' \ The tionse resumed at 7.30 pan. wstbict June* _««_«. . •j_.^e_?ia _in "P'y to Captamßimofll said that the Government bad received oartain -correspondence from District Judge Kettle in connection with the statement made in the House by the Minister of Leads. but it waa not yet complete. Judge Kettle would be asked to complete it, when tho C*bmet would consider the matter. " '

OMHUS 0J 1 _tfK SKSUOI. Replying to another question put by <_uv tain Russell, the Premier said that he weald be happy to receive tho assistance off 'Ah* leader of the Opposition in briogwg ti» session to a closer • '*■ . Captain Russell Mid that ho would bs> happy to give the Premier any assistance in the matter, and saw no reason why tho Public Works Statement should not bo brought down on Tuesday, and the Appronnation Bill on Thursday, and in theTceeV members could go to their homes on Friday. «_ _rWA6BB p»otkctiok MIX. The Wage* Protection Bill was read a third time and passed. SECOND BKAMNCS. The second reading of the Mining Om_panies Act Amendment Bill was agreed to> after a short debate. Tho Premier moved the seoond reading of the Technical Education Bill. Ho was ear*, he said, that the Bill wasono which net with the general approval ef the Hoaso, and that there was a general opinion throughout tho colony that there was a necessity for the measure. Though much had been done in respect to technical education, the colony was still behind, and he pointed oat that the success svhioh had attended Germany from a commercial point of view was due to technical education. The Bill proposed toappropriate £25,000 to technical edaeatkw* sohool buildings, aod from no othcrexpendtture by the State would a better rotara b* obtained. Provision was also nude for sV capitation grant for manna! iHtraetioa.; Ho intimated that the Government were desirous of giving every assiaUece to the existing College of Agrhultore at Lincoln. Mr Rollestonaaid that if nothing else wont done this session it was well worth letting such a practical measure. He objected to technical education being separated irons tho uational system of education, and eo_sid_i*_ that the finance of the measure should be under the control of JJparda of Eduoatioa. However, to get the measure pasted _» would not press his objections, and he would trust to time to rectify the defects ef the __l. Mr -James Allen also, gave a qualified support to the measure, and hoped that if ia became law provision would be made far m_er eneo «*8«»"t to Schooli of Mines. The debate was continued by Mr Buchanan, Mr Hogg, Sir Robert Stout* Mr Gilfedder, Mr Carson, Mr Heke, and Mr Monk, who all supported the measure. The seoond reading was agreed to e_ t_» voices.

The seoond reading of the Water Bspply Act Amendment Bill was agreed M after _ short debate. The Premier moved the seoond reading of the Alien Immigration Restriction Bill. He said that it contained modifications of t_» Act of last year which had been reesrved for Her Majesty's assent. The motion was agreed to. BILLS ?__«», . The Westport Harbor Board .Low Bill and the Lyttelton Harbor Bard Loan Bill were committed and passed their final stages. The House adjourned at 12.30ia.nv