AMENDMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 218, 15 September 1939, Page 13

AMENDMENTS.

STATUTES REVISION.

LAW FOR EARLY MARRIAGE.

CHILDREN BORN IN WEDLOCK,

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.

An anomaly existing in the marriage law in regard to persons under 16 years of age is removed by a clause in the Statutes Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives last night, read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The measure provides that no certificate of marriage shall be issued if either of the parties is under 16 years of age. If, however, it occurs that «ither party to the marriage is subsequently found to have been under 18 at the date of the marriage the marriage shall not be declared invalid for that reason. Children born of these marriages, whether before or after the pas - ing of the Act, shall be deemed to have been born in wedlock.

The bill contains 61 clauses, these beiifj? mainly of a technical nature.

An amendment to the Coal Mines Act, 1025. provides that money appropriated by Parliament to assist the coal industry may be used for purchasing machinery, and among other things the transport of oil derived from coal and the erection and repairing of dwellings by mine owners for the use of employees. Damages awarded under the Deaths By Accidents Act, 1008, may be placed in trust by the Court. This provision applies only in cases where damagee are ■awarded on behalf of two or more parties. The apportionment of money Is to be determined by the Court of Arbitration. The Court is empowered to delegate any of its powers or functions under the Factories Act or Shops and Offices Act to a stipendiary magistrate!

The Juries Act is amended to provide that no action or criminal case shall be tried before a judge with a special jury without the consent of all parties unless the judge is of .opinion that difficult" questions relating to scientific technical business or professional matters are likely to rise.

The quota provisions of the Cinematograph Films Act. 1928, are extended. These now provide for a 20 per cent quota of British films by both renters and exhibitors until 1944.

Subject to the consent of the Minister of Internal Affairs, any borough council may levy a special rate to meet expenditure 011 Centennial celebrations.

River boards are authorised to insure their members against personal accidents while engaged in official duties.

Power is given for the appointment of assistant secretaries of labour, this authority being made retrospective to April 1, 1939.

.Judges of the Supreme Court are vested with power to extend the period for claims for compensation under tlie Public Works Act up to five years. The name of the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee is changed to the New Zealand Wool Council.

Power to make regulations under the Air Navigation Act is widened to include regulations covering signals and other communications to and from aircraft.