COMING LEGISLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 10

COMING LEGISLATION.

NEW GOVERNMENT BILLS. LOCAL BODIES' LOANS. VARIATION" OF INTEREST. CBj Teletn-aph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON', this day. An amendment of the Local Bodies Loans Act introduced by tie i'rime Minister seeks to provide a method under which former restrictions on the rate of interest may be varied with the i.mhority of the Minister of Finance. I his authority I first given in section i>!i>vr«ii of the' Finance' Act, 10-21) is i.c ;.i;-cd to apply to all loans since the of ;lmt Act. or to loans raised i>r i-nnver-sion purposes. Similarly the IHi ;.it;ons imposed on interest of local liiiily conversion debentures may bo vuned. while in the ca--e of ordinarj- • '.<■ ciiiures tlie rate of interest may be extended from 4J to 5 per cent. Copyright Amendment. Tl:e l/onyright Amendment Bill, which is in charge of tlie Hon. C. J. Parr, extends the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1913, to British protectorates, the Imperial authorities having drawn attention to this having been omitted from the original Art. The bill also includes territories under mandate to His Majesty. Police Discipline. An amendment of the Police Force Act, introduced by the Hon. C. J. Parr. Minister ot" Justice, provides principi.lly for dealing with breaches of discipline. ]t gives power to make regulations prescribing lines and other penalties for breaches of regulations, and sets out a method of inquiry into such breaches. 3n the ease of superintendents, inspec- ■ tors, oV sub-inspectors, the Inquiry \ Board shall consist of two members appointed by the Minister, one of whom shall be a member of the police force. They will report to the Minister, and penalties may include dismissal or re- I duction, or fine not exceeding £20. I Inquiries -where a charge concerns a > sergeant may be made by a superinten- i dent or inspector, and the maximum fine is to be £5. A charge against any constable may be investigated by a I superintendent or inspector, and the maximum fine is £3. Persons may be examined on oath, and false evidence may be punishable under the Crimes Act, and superannuation rights of mem- ! bers of the force who joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and have been reappointed to the service within two years and three months of their j discharge from the army are revived so j long as payments are made within a i year of the passing of this Act. Provision is made for payment of superannuation arrears by instalments extending over three years. A provision of the law under which a magistrate j may determine the title to goods taken j possession of by the police other than , pursuant to warrant is extended to I cover all goods, wares, or merchandise j of any description, and to include horses, live stock and other animals, and all conveyances and other means of transport. Sale of Food and Drugs. The Sale of Food and. Druas Amendment Bill, which is in the cbarpe of the Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomare), proposes some important alterations to the existing law. It is proposed to extend the definition of "drug" to include soaps, dusting powders, and unguents used by man as well as disinfectants, germicides, antiseptics, and j preservatives. There is also the extension j of the term "sale" so as to include any food supplied with a meal or food supplied for consumption in any shop, hotel, restaurant, or eating house, or j at any stall or other place. Any such i food shall be deemed to be sold, or | offered for sale. Additional powers are j ■ propose! for officers to take samples i of food or drugs for examination or i analysis, but, unless the existing procedure is followed by officers in securing these samples, no Court proceedings may j follow. Another clause .makes it an' offence to advertise in any way any j' statement, design, or device calculated I : to deceive a purchaser in regard to the ' properties of any food or drug. An . amendment also proposes to exempt from Excise or Customs duty, food con- ' taiaing three parts of proof spirit per ' cent. The existing law limits exemp- 1 tion to two parts of proof spirit per cent. There are other machinery clauses ] makino- for greater facility in applying |' to the Act. "" " 1 ( Insurance Law. | The Insurance Company Deposits 1 Amendment Bill, brought down by Mr. 1 Massey, extends the definition of the i term "company" to mean any "person" s or association of persons, whether < corporate of otherwise. The principal : provision in the bill is a clause excepting ( from the term "insurance business," in- s surance against earthquake or insurance i against fire, consequent on earthquake. 1