AMENDMENTS TO STATUTES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22501, 8 September 1938, Page 12

AMENDMENTS TO STATUTES

♦ INSURANCE FOR COUNTY COUNCILLORS PHYSICAL WELFARE COUNCIL TO HAVE 12 MEMBERS [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. September 7. Various provisions are contained in the Statutes Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day by GovernorGeneral’s Message. Many of the amendments are of a more or less technical nature. One clause in the bill removes t-.e restriction on the establishment of pnvate burial grounds. A section dealing with counties provides that county councils may insure their members against personal accident while members are engaged on their official duties. _ Another section deals with electric power boards, and amends the existing provision with regard to the purchase of electric works. It also authorises boards to raise loans by special order for making advances to property owners for certain electrical installations. Authority is given for the payment of an annual allowance of £2OO to the president of the Electric Power' -Boards’ and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand. , _ , Under the heading of Government railways, there is provision for extending the superannuation rights and the rights of reappointment of the general secretary and assistant general secretary jf the service. The constitution of tribunals for the purposes of departmental inquiries is slightly modified. ~, _ . . Under the Justices of the Peace Act authority is to be given to the Attorney-General to direct a stay of proceedings in respect of indictable offences, and the Attorney-General may delegate this power, in any Court presided over by Justices to any counsel nominated by him. Licensing Electors Permanent dates are set in the, bill for the election of licensing committees. It i i provided that the committees will be elected on the second Tuesday in the March following every general licensing poll. Another clause states that former members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects who may have relinquished their membership may be eligible for re-registration. The object of this clause is to remove an anomaly in the existing law and several cases of hardship which have arisen. • Provision is made for the appointment of an additional member to the Opticians’ Board, on the recommendation of the Minister for Health. Another clause gives pharmaceutical chemists the right to serve their apprenticeships in approved private hospitals. Membership of the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation is increased from 10 to 12 members. A section dealing with police offences provides that any person making any replica of a banknote will be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of £5. ' Various technical amendments are made to the Trustee Act, the main provision relating- to accrued interest on debentures or stock. After a brief explanation by the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), the bill was read a first time.