POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9515, 7 September 1896, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

[B* Telegraph],

(FROM OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, September 6. JOTTINGS.

When the Photographic Copyright Bill was in Committee recently, Mr Lewie wae speaking on one of the clauses when he was interrupted by Mr Carnell, who remarked— "The hon. member for Christchurch has had something to say about photography, but he ia always talking of matters that he knows absolutely .nothing .about." Mb Lewie said nothing, but a few days after* wards members who strolled into the main lobby noticed an enlarged photograph ,o£ three plough horses thinking after fcheir day's work at a very pretty stream. The subject was well chosen and admirablytreated, and many members, among them Mr Carnell, who is a professional photographer, remarked upon the artistic quality of the picture, which is really a gem of its kind. It subsequently transpired that the stream, the horses and the photograph belonged to Mr Lewis, and that the picture was the work of the hon. gentleman, who " knew absolutely nothing" about photography. Subsequently hon. members had a good laugh at another photograph by Mr Lowis, which hangs in the whips' room. It is a picture of a man driving a horse in a trap. The horse's* head, distorted by means of a wide angle leas, is just about as big us its body. The Premier and a number of members are at I*al mere ton North in connection with tho opening of the Industrial Exhibition there. It is very doubtful whether the Government will persevere with their Fair Rent Bill. The criticism upon it bo far has been very severe, and Mr Allen decidedly scored in quoting an old speech by the Minister for Lands, which was a striking criticism of such a measure. Some further adverse criticism may bs expected on Tuesday. There are nearly one hundred Bills on the Order paper, besides other business. Mr Atack,'Manager of tho Press Association, has been asked to give evidence on Tuesday before tho Copyright Telegrams Committee. Mr Gray, in answer to a communication as to what concession the Association received in the way of telegraph rates, replied that practically no concessions were granted. ■