LOBBY GOSSIP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 175, 26 July 1907, Page 5

LOBBY GOSSIP.

THE ESTIMATES

(By Telegraph—Special Correspondent) WELLINGTON, July 25. The Government follows, up the tactical victory by taking the first item in the Estimates to-morrow at 7.30. . TARIFF MATTERS. Re the tariff, I find boots are becoming the main contention with a very large number of people of political proclivities, the meeting of trade representatives having roused up cori- . siderable feeling in the House. Where the shoes pinch is the foot of the poor man. The trade does not see why the. footgear imported for him, which cannot be made in the country, should pay duty. There is a feeling that the Government will have to repeat its dose of "conciliation and compromise," as it is the fashion to call the ■ tactics which won out on the financial _debate; Sir Joseph's implied readi'xiess to throw the motor cars over, at the same time maintaining encouragement for the commercial vehicle which is going to be very much spread over all iines of) business requiring carriers, ev4n to ijhe butchers' and grocers' lines, as some people firmly believe, gives some support to the expectation. MR RIGG'S ABORTIVE BID. Mr Rigg's advocacy of a. special Labour party is not taken seriously all round. There are people who wonder how he can find in his heart to bring such a proposition to the front, immediately after his reappointment to the Council, which was a surprise of a , large sort to many who were of opinion that had a certain personality remained in the land of ihe living Mr Rigg would not have been summoned again to the halls of good counsel. As - to his proposals a few, like Mr Barclay of Dunedin, who-is falling out with Mr.Millar about his proposal to nationalise all the springs of national industry and a big etcetera, who want • '& new sensation to justify their poli-. tical existence side with Mr Rigg; but they are not ready to accept him as the chief. It is a case of each one wanting the first position; but then, unfortunately for Mr Rigg, they are not in accord as to his fitness for the second. THE MEIKLE CASE. The sorrows of Mr Meikle came to the front to-day in practical form for the first time since the report of the Commission. It was a deputation to the Prime Minister, which astonished all men by demanding at least £15,----000 by way qf compensation. There is, I find, a widespread feeling that the unfortunate man ought to be substantially compensated, something above the paltry £500 granted him by way of clean receipt in full of all demands in the awfully long ago. The fact that the Commission declared the ' man wrongfully convicted weighs with the majority who think nothing about precedents, and moreover think the Commission quite wrong in saying there are no precedents for compensation, because they know quite well the history of the law simply teems with them. The wrongful conviction is the crux according to them, and must carry compensation. Thus Sir Joseph was representative of a wide constituency when he said he recognised there was a case for compensation. When he added that the verdict f the Commission made the matter of the amount very difficult, he is thought to have merely intended to convey the meaning that the Commission had giv- . en the Government no guide in the matter. It was enough for the depution (one of whom, by the way, was Mr Atkinson, who conducted Meikle's case before the Commission) that Sir Joseph said the man had been wrongfully sent to prison, and they departed satisfied that the coming Bill would do something for their man, as indeed almost all the general public thinks so. The Bill will stand a good chance if the compensation is generous without; being excessive. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Pure Food Bill stands a good chance m the Council. The Accountants and-the Musicians Bills are not in too good an odour, and there are people who wonder why the legislation I is thus brought forward.