POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6091, 18 August 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[By Teleoeaph.]

(lEOM OCR OWN OOKEESPONDBNT.)

Wellington, August 17th,

The Publio Petitions Committee of the Legls latlva Counoil reported to-day on the petition of 64 Lincoln farmers tbat some steps be taken to abate tho "small-bird nuisance," from wblch tbe petitioners suffer great loss. The Committee recommended that county councils and road boards be empowered to deal with the matter.

Tha same Committee reported to-day on petitions for and against tbe amendment oi the Education Act in the direction of Bible reading in schools. The Committee pronounce the matter one of public policy for Parliament to deal with, and therefore decline to m»k» any recommendation. On several petitions from legal practitioters and law societies against Sir George Grey's Law Practitioners Bill, the Committee tnakiv a similar report, and decline to offer any recommendation to the Council. This afternoon the Attorney • general obtained,' in the Legislative Connell, leave to Introduce a bill entitled "An Act to Amend the Law relating to the Practice and Procedure of the Supreme Court of Now Zealand." As ye; only the title of the bill is drawn up. The biL itself will be founded on the report of the Judicature Commission, when that is received. The Joint Committee on Revision of Statutes reported to-day on the Publio Workß Bill drafted by tbe Statutes Rpvision Commia slon. Tho report recommends" that the bill be paßßed witb certain suggested amendment". Tbe Committee also direct the attention of Parliament to the following points:—(l) The Drainage Bill having naw passed, clauses 190 to 204 of the Public Worka Bill, relating tv drainage through private lands, should be omitted; (2) the new clauses 24 to 26, proposed In the bill (relating to taking of Native landi by Oider-in*Council on payment of due com ponsatlon) involve a change of policy on a question of grave publio importance and the Committee think it right to point this ont. In Committee on the Prisons Act Amendment Bill Mr Hutchison is to move the addition of the following proviso : —" Provided always that prison labor shall be restricted to outdoor and menial labor, not involving training or skill." Mr DiviK**. Bu K H=i_l<,tration Amendment Bill is circulated- It provides tbat the dog registration fee shall not be less than 5s nor more than 10s, at the discretion of the local authorities- Mr Kelly has given notice that in Committee on this bill he will move tbat in the case oE dogs kept and used solely for the purpose of tending sheep or cattle on a farm or in the eierclee of the occupation of shepherd, exemption from the payment of registration fee may be claimed by the owner in r»spect oi suoh dogs, not exceeding two in number, kept by bim solely for use in tending sheep or cattle, or in the exsretoa of hi] occupation as a shepherd. This is a matter in which great Interest seems to be taken by the country members and their constituents, so it will probably evoke considerable discussion.

Dr Wallis' Annual Parliaments Bill contains only one operative clause, which tuhs thus :— "Notwithstanding anything in any former Aot or law, every future House of Representatives Bhall, unless the General Assembly be sooner dissolved, continue for the period of one yen only, to be computed from the day fixed for the return of the writs issued for choosing such House, and no longer." This is supposed to be one of the honourable and reverend doctor*, ponderous jokes, and Is an illustration of the way the time ef Parliament is wasted, and the oountry pnt to needless expense, to gratify the small vanity of mediocre men who crave notoriety in the House. This afternoon Mr Hutchison presented a petition from Alfred James Renner, telegraphist, praying for compensation through being unable to obtain employment as a telegraphist in JAnstralia, osing to the New Zest land Government having forwarded his name there as having taken part in the strike here, the consequence being that he had been many months out of work, and was still unable to earn a livelihood^ besides having been subjected to severe loss, inconyenience, and _ hardship As Mr Stewart'd motion of censure is not veiy likely to be reached at all this session, being s<> far down on the order paper, this petition may bring on discussion relative to tho action of Government regarding the telegraphists who were dismissed for striking, and then poßted ali over the Australian Colonies,

Some carions figures were brought out by Mr Hurst, M.H.R., as to the respective population!* of the North and South in relation to representation, The figures are furnished by the Registrar-general. The increase cf population in the North Island since the census of 1878 is nt the rate of 34 per cent., an ngainst 40 pm cent, for tbe South Island, tbe difference thus being only 6 per cent. Comparing Anokland and Otago, during the past quarter 441 persons ariived in Auckland from places ontaide tho Colony, and 656 in Otago ; but 1027 left Otago, and only 405 left Auckland. The latter thus gained 36 during tha quarter, while Otngobs'. 361- lii the same period 41 arrived iii Canterbury, but 177 left; the balance against Canter bury being 136. Tho argument bused on these figures is of course that tbe North is improv ing more rapidly than the South, and this shonld be considered in readjusting the representation ior a term of years.

The debate to-night waa chiefly marked by an impassioned sp-ech from Mr Hall, and a chaffing one after from Sir George Grey, who derided the earnestness with which the Premier spoke. Mr Gisborne made an eff-jctive point by comparing the proposed Redistribution Bill fo the bed pf ProcrnsteH. Mr Wood's amendment is expected to bn negatived, but by a smaller majority than Hr Gl-bornsV