POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3163, 18 August 1881, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

(from our own corbespojident.}

Wellington, August 18. The Colonial Industries Committee in interim report say that in the opinion of the committee the duty on imported jams, jellies, and preserves, should be increased by one halfpenny per lb. That the Government should as soon as possible import sorghum seed for distribution, and should also import the machinery required for the manufacture of sugar from sorghum, the cost of which your committee have in evidence will not exceed £700. In Council yesterday the Attorney-General replied to Mr Buckley re Messrs Seed and Batkin's report that it had not been received, but when it was the Government would consider whether it was advisable to lay a confidential report before Parliament. Mr Hutchison intimated his intention, on going into committee on Prisons Act 1873 Amendment Bill, to move that clause llLbe read with following proviso:— ways that all prison labor shall be restricted to out-door and menial labor, whereof the acquirement does not involve learning or skill. Dr Menzies Bill for Bible reading in schools passed the Committee in Council yesterday. Several amendments moved by Mr Whitaker with a view to lessen the stringency of the new enactment were rejected, but an amendment by Mr Buckley that no teacher should be compelled-; to be present while the Bible is being read was carried by 11 votes to 9." Mr Moorhouse is in.a very condition, his medical advisers being now in constant attendance upon him. Mrs Hall the Premier's wife is .'still prostrated with severe indisposition, it is feared that she will be unable to appear amongst her numerous friends 'during "the remainder of session.,