POLITICAL NEWS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8214, 22 June 1895, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

(FROM OUB OWN COKBESi'ONDJByT.) (BY TKLEORAPH.) WELLINGTON, Juno 21. Quite a chorus of approval followed Mr C- H. Mills' notice of intention to move that pompenMtion be paid to John Meikle, mongfuUy convicted at Inv»rc*rgill, aud

sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on t/ic Mac testimony of a perjurer named Lambert The first debato of the session took place over the Premier's proposal to grunt a month's leave of absence to Sir Geo Groy on account of ill-health. Tho Hon. Captilin Russell protested that the right hon. gentleman had not desired tho head of the Governmont to a»k that leave bo granted lain. Moreover, >ir Georgti was not a member of this Parliament, for ho left tho colony shortly after his election two ycara ngo, and had not taken tho oath of allegiance. Sir R. Stout followed, and raised the point that 8ir G. Grey's absence during tho whole of last session without express loavo under the statute made his seat vacant. Messrs Ciowther and Button, tho colleagues of tho right hon. gentleman in tho representation of Auckland, expressed regret at the turn the debute had taken, and declared that if tho scat wore declared vacant Sir Geo. Grey would he re-elected in his absence. Speaking with 20 years' oxperia}ce, the Premier anu\ he had never yot heard opposition raised to a motion granting an hon. member leave of absence. His latest communication was that Sir George would be shortly leaving tho Mother Country. "Is that from the hon. gentleman himself?" interposed Mr Hall-Jones, and the Premier admitted that it wai not. Tho motion was then put and agreed to, but at a lute stage of the proceedings Sir R. Stout gave notice of tho letting up of a Committee of Privileges to determine whether the Right Hon. Sir George Groy is or is not a member of the House, Major Steward thinks that immediato attention should be given to the further amendment of the Standing Orders, particularly in respect to that order which permits a member to speak so frequently in Committee. The matter is to engage the attention of the Standing Orders Committee. The Government arc desirous of having some of the boys of the colony apprenticed to the Australasian naval squadron, and the Premier has promised Air Joyce that ho will communicate with tho authorities on tho subject. The Minister of Railways is not unmindful of the invidious distinction made between the higher and lower grades of railway employees in regard to granting firat and second class free passes, and has promised to go exhaustively into the in.it tor, And that of classification during the recess. Both branches of the Legislaturo applied theinselve3 to the Address-in-Reply. In the Council Mr M'Cullough, in moving it, expressed the opinion that the tide of pro* sperity had now set in, due largely to the grants of money proposed by the Government last scsuon in aid of the mining industry. He approred of tho reciprocal treaties as a siep in the direction of freetrade. The Hon. Mr Walker was glad to see it was intended to remodel the charitable aid system, and that tho question was to be thoroughly considered. In leference to the question of the increase of the number of Ministers, he hoped the gentleman selected would come from the Council. The Hon. Mr Pharazyn said lie was not so sanguine as the mover as to the condition of the colony, and that our affairs required to be conducted with the utmost prudence. After a few remarks by the Hon. Dr Grace, who eulogised the action of the Government in seizing the Midland Railway, the Address was adopted, and tho Council rose. At 10.30 the debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House was adjourned till Tuesday.