NEW GOVERNMENT BILLS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 291, 2 September 1908, Page 7

NEW GOVERNMENT BILLS.

o :— HOURS OF MINERS. The Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, which has been introduced by the Minister for Minos, in fulfilment of the Premier's promise to deal effectively ivith the eight hours bank-to-bank principle, is a one-clause measure. Clause 38, sub-clause 1 of the.Coal Mines Act, 1908 (the consolidated statute), reads: "A miner shall be entitled to be paid overtime when he is employed underground in a mine for more than eight hours in any day, counting from the time he enters the underground working of the mine to the time ho leaves the same." The amending Bill proposes to add to tho above sub-clause the following words:—"Such overtime shall bo paid at tho rate of time and a quarter for all time worked in excess of the said eight hours, and shall be payable notwithstanding tho provisions of any award or industrial agreement now or hereafter to bo in force." This provision is by no means so comprehensive as tho Hours of Underground Workers Bill, which was introduced by tho Hon. Mr. Guinness a' few weeks ago. That measure applied to all underground workings, and besides prescribing a day of eight hours from bank to bank, it provided for a half-hour meal time, and made the overtime rate time and a half. Mr. Guinncss's Bill was referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee, and has, not yet been reported upon. As there will bo no further opportunity for private members' Bills this session, the delay of tho committee has resulted in killing the Speaker's Bill/

AGAINST PESTS, The Agricultural Produce Sale and Importation Act, which has been introduced by Mr. M'Nab, is designed to prevent tho salo or importation of agricultural products affected by pests. Tho 'operative ■ clause is as follows:—"Every person who, whether on his own account or as tho servant or agent of any other person, sells or introduces into New Zealand or delivers to any person by way of gift any produce which he has reasonable cause to believe to contain the seed of any injurious plant or to be affected with diseaso is liable, 'on summary conviction before a magistrate, to a fine .not exceeding £20. On any such conviction tho magistrate may direct that the produce in • respect. of which tho offence was committed shall bo forfeited to tho Crown, and everything so forfeited shall bo disposed of as the Minister for Agriculture directs." The diseases to which tho provisions are to apply aro angurnois grain moth, Mediterranean flour moth, grain weevil, Indian meal moth, meal snout inoth. Tho only injurious plant mentioned in tho Bill is tho California!! thistle.