PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2299, 16 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By Tbibqbaph.] [PBOSI THE OWN OOEEBSPONBENX OJ THE “PBESS.”] WELLINGTON, August 15. There was a fearfully dull debate to-night on the Bepreaentation Bill. The speeches were all dreary to a degree, and no new points were brought out. It is doubtful whether the debate will close to-morrow night. There is no sign yet of the schedules or lithographed maps; the original largo map with all the various proposals for the re-arrangement of the electorates remains permanently on the table of the House, but nothing more definite can be deducted from that than what I have already sent. The Eailway Construction Bill is now printed, but proves rather a “sell,” as it is not the measure which empowers the Government to grant assistance in land to private railway companies, but _is a very short technical Bill, merely supplying certain formal omissions in existing Acts. I understand that the real Bill, so anxiously looked for, will be ontituled the Public Works Act, IBBX, and that it is now in the printer’s hands, and may be out to-morrow. Eeverting to the Bepresentation Bill, the division is to be curiously “mixed.” I hear that Sir G. Grey will vote with the Government, and his nephew, George, on the other side, while Mr McDonald votes with Ministers. It is rumored that the Nelson and Westland members, headed by Mr Gisborne, will “stonewall” the Bill in committee. The Nelson papers contend that members are justified in using the forms of the House in every possible way to avert the injustice which they allege the Bill would inflict on Nelson and Westland, because the numerical superiority of Canterbury and Otago is due to the expenditure of public money denied to Nelson and Westland. It is, nevertheless, believed that the Bill will get through, possibly in a modified shape as to the schedules.

Mr Dick’s Dog Registration Amendment Bill empowers the local authorities to fix the dog registration fee, not to bo more than 10s or less tnan ss. The Animals Protection Amendment Bill, also introduced by Mr Dick, empowers the Governor to vary tho game season ; penalties to apply to seasons so varied in cases not otherwise provided for. A breach of the Act is to be punished by £2O penalty. In section 111 of tho existing Act, tho words “not exceeding ” are to be inserted before “ £20.” This is to meet cases of hardship such as that which recently occurred in Wellington.