THE MEIKLE CASE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12965, 19 November 1907, Page 8

THE MEIKLE CASE.

. a (.MEM ASSOCIATION TEL-OKAH.) WELLINGTON, November 18. A deputation from the Meikle Committee waited on th© Premier this afternoon with regard to the present position of the 'Meikle Acquittal Bill. The deputation urged that the Bill should b© put through this session, as it had only been laid aside on account of obstruction from a very weak opposition. Tho Premier, in his reply, said his colleagues had unanimously agreed to , everything that was don© in this matter, with a view to getting legislation put upon the Statute Book. The halfdozen members who had opposed the Bill in the Spouse did not represent th© total number of members who were opposed to the measure. Tho number who were in doubt about it was at least 28, and, of course, the Bill oould not be got through. His desire was to do justice to Meikle, and have his name practically removed from the criminal records, so as to give effect to the report of the Royal Commission. As to compensation, his idea had been that that subject should bo referred to a Parliamentary Committee, but under tho circumstances he thought he was .doing the right thing in referring the question to the Court of Appeal. He was quite prepared to consider a suggestion that had been made by Mr A. R. Atkinson that a separate tribunal should be set up to hear both the Meikle and the Lambert cases, so that a final result would he arrived at. He did not believe Meikle's case would be prejudiced by delaying it until next session. Notwithstanding any opinion any ono might hove to tho contrary, the Government was quite impersonal in the matter, and was anxious to get the legislation through. ' "AYe want to see common justice done to Meikle," said Sir Joseph.