Judges’ Powers To Be Extended

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31255, 30 December 1966, Page 3

Judges’ Powers To Be Extended

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 29. The Crimes Amendment Act, which permits a judge to comment on the failure of a defendant to give evidence, is one of several measures passed by the 1966 Parliament which will come into force on Sunday, January 1.

Another provision of this bill which caused controversy earlier in the year allows the Crown, through the SolicitorGeneral, to appeal against a sentence, unless the sentence is mandatory. The Companies Amendment Act also comes into force on Sunday.

This legislation toughens prospectus provisions and requires that trustees for subscribers be appointed when companies borrow from the public.

In whatever form it is issued, an invitation to subscribe money will be deemed to be an invitation to subscribe for debentures, and any advertisement by which it is published will be deemed a prospectus. Another new act, the Inventions Development Act, is designed to encourage de-

velopment and exploitation of any inventions which might be useful in industry, commerce or recreation.

It sets up an inventions development authority, and provides a development account with an initial sum of £25,000 from consolidated revenue.

Other provisions coming into force are:—

New methods of valuating land for the purpose of calculating stamp duty and estate and gift duty. Provisions for Niue Island which are contained in a separate act now that the Cook Islands have their constitutional government, over which New Zealand has only limited legislation. Part of the Criminal Justice Amendment Act, which sets in general a limit of 10 years in which proceedings can be brought in respect of crimes carrying a sentence of less than a £lOO fine or one year in prison.

Amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act dealing with regional and district plannings.