THE MEIKLE CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 255, 25 October 1907, Page 3

THE MEIKLE CASE.

BILL BLOCKED IN COMMITTEE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Meikle Acquittal Bill, to reverse the conviction of John James Meikle on a charge of sheep stealing, was considered in committee by the House of Representatives to-night. Mr Remington thought it was possible that any bounty voted to Meikle by the House would be shared by the syndicate which had helped him in his campaign. For his part he was not going to accept any responsibility. He moved that the galleries should be cleared, as he desired to read the evidence given before the Royal Commission. This motion was lost by 3S votes to 15. The ladies' gallery which was crowded at this stage perceptibly diminished in numbers, but the ladies quickly returned when the result of the division became known. Mr Fisher said he ventured to think that there was a self-esteem and selfrespect on the part of the majority of the members which would not permit the whole of the evidence to be read. They were beginning to find out that there was a prejudice against Meikle in Parliament. Mr Lawry said what the House had to consider was whether Mr Meikle, after having given the Government a full receipt exonerating them from, all further claim, had a right to receive special consideration that had not been accorded on any previous occasion to His Majesty's subjects. Meikle got £500 and £290 for legal expenses, and he thought with that payment finality had been reached. A regular stonewall continued for hours, not without its amusing aspect and its personal banter. The principal participants were Messrs Lawry, Hornsby, A. L. D. Fraser, Remington, and Wilford. The discussion degenerated into a travesty on Parliamentary procedure. At 12.10 a.m. the Premier brought the aimless speeches to an end by announcing that he would move to report progress, as he realised it was no use going on. The committee agreed to progress being reported, without a single clause of the bill having been adopted. As he had previously indicated, the Premier gave notice that he would move to set up a select committee of 10 members to whom should be referred the question of the amount of compensation to which Meikle was entitled, taking into consideration the report of the Commission and the evidence.