NEW GOVERNMENT BILLS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 19 October 1907, Page 8

NEW GOVERNMENT BILLS.

$— STATE OYSTER SHOPS. Tho proposals of the Minister for Marine (Hon. J. A. Millar) in regard to State control of oyster beds in the Auckland district, as announced by him some time ago, are embodied in the Sea Fisheries Bill which was circulated yesterday. The Bill provides that the Minister may employ oyster pickers at any oyster fishery in the North Island, may sell oysters wholesale or retail, and acquire, promises for tho purpose. Any oyster fishery or part thereof in the North Island may be set apart for Government use. A person who stacks, paddocks, or beds down rock oysters, without a permit from the Collector of Customs, or who opens oysters on any oyster bed, may bo fined up to £10. Tho Governor-in-Cou'ncil may make regulations prohibiting. or regulating the possession of oysters during the close season, but oysters placed in cold storage during the oyster season may be taken out for consumption during the close season under a permit granted by a Collector of Customs or Inspector of Fisheries. SCAFFOLDING INSPECTION. Under tho Scaffolding Inspection Act of last year, scaffolding under sixteen feet in height was excepted from the attentions of the inspectors. An Amending Bill, which has been introduced by the Minister for Labour, romoves tho exception, and provides that scaffolding made sixteen feet shall be inspected. Builders will not, however, be required to notify an inspector beforo erecting scaffoldiug under sixteen feet high. Anothor new clause provides that ladders must extend at least five feet above the highest point to which they give immediate access. Every lift used in ejecting a building must bo fitted with*" an automatic catch of a design approved by tho Minister. Tho joists of a building in course of erection must bo boarded, over, as long as may bo necessary to protect the workmen and others against risk of accident. A breach of either of tho three provisions is punishable with a fino not exceeding £20. Accidents occurring in connection with building operations, arid causing death or serious bodily injury, are to bo reported to an inspector, who will make enquiries and report to thq Minister. ' AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.. A .short Bill has been introduced by the Minister for Labour to extend the operation of the Agricultural Implement Manufacture, Importation and Salo Act, 1905. up to December 31, 1910'. Tho clause which placed British-made implements on the samo footing as those manufactured ~in New Zealand is to apply, according to the new Bill, to all agricultural implements made in the United Kingdom. _, .