NEW BILLS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 692, 17 December 1909, Page 5

NEW BILLS.

PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIFICATION AND '/ SUPERANNUATION. , 4-. .memorandum accompanying this Bill (which was introduced last, night) states that under the Public .Service! Classification and superannuation Act, 1908,. a contributor does not entitled to a retiring allowance unhLhe (1) is sixty-five years of age, or (2) has served for forty years, or (3) becomes medically, unfit for further duty. In.the case of a female contributor the age-limit is fifty-five years, and the required- period of service is- th&ty years. At.the discretion of a Minister, a-male contributor may be granted a retiring allowance at sixty, and a ''female- contributor' 'at •hity. If a contributor retires from the service before, becoming entitled to a retiring allowance ho is entitled' to nothing except a refund of his contributions without'interest. It has been found that these provisions are the cause of some hardship in the' case of certain classes ; ofpublio servants,'the nature of whose employment is-such that they can scarcely hope to;serve - long enough'.to earn a pension. This applies;more particularly to the Defence Forces, the regulations of that service requiring retirement before the age-limit fixed' by the Superannuation Act! To meet such cases it is proposed by this Bill (Clauses 2'to'S) to give' to : all persons who are - Tetired : compulsorily (otherwise than for misconduct) after twenty years' service a right to receive, •- in addition to. a : refund of: their contributions, a further sum, by way of, interest on thoso contributions. '■'~- '.-.!' -.!'.' Clause 6 provides that- those members-, of the Public. Service w.ho havo failed to fake advantage- of their right' to join the .fund shall cease to be entitled to become contributors'thereto unless they so elect before March 31, 1910. '•'.'.■■.■" .Clause: 7,enables ; tho -Minister ,in charge of any Department to extend tho benefits of the Act to a male contributor who Tetires at fiftyfivo'years of age,'if his service is not less than thirty years. ' Clause;B reduces the maximum, retiring-al-lowance, except in certain ■ cases, to '£300 a year.' '■•! ~ ' ; '".'-. Clanse.9 is intended to avoid*certain difficulties, which have been experienced, in computing the proper deduction to bo mado from retiring, allowances when the contributor re-, turns ;temporarily. to the Government service.;: "';'..-■ ■ ; ' - '•-.- • Clause 10■'. allows an extension of'-the-time, ■limited for the making of payments on account of broken service. Under this clause contributors who desire to take advantage of the provisions of Section 1 50 of the Public Service Classification arid Superannuation Amendment Act, 1908, may make tho necessary payment at any time before, October 10, 1910. Clauses 11, 12, and 13 make' the same amendments,, to tho scheme, of teachers' superannuation'as are made by Clauses,' 7, 8, ana 9of the Bill in,;the case of the.Public Service.."-. - Claus©!»ls makes the same amendment in tho case/.df-.railways superannuation as is made in the case; of tho Publio Service by Clauso 10. Clause-16 provides!) for tho Railways Superannuation Fund an annual subsidy of .625,000. Tho Bill abolishes the Police Provident Fund, and merges-it-in tho Publio. Service Superannuation Fund, AH existing contributors to.tho former fund are transferred to the latter and become subject to tho scheme of Public Service superannuation. .-.:'.- ■•'',.' '.'. Clauso 25 preserves the right of a member of the police force -who is injured in.thoexccution of his duties.to obtain, if the board thinks fit, a larger retiring allowauco than ,would otherwise bo payable.,' Clauso 2G increases the annual subsidy'of the Public Service Superanpuation Fund by £3000,. in view of tho,increased burden placed upon that fund by tho inclusion-of the polico force as'contributors.

;' TRAMWAYS. .;:■'-■' .';'- Tho Tramways Amendment Bill which • was introduced by tho Minister for Public Works gives the Government ■ extended powors in regard to tramways, : tho measure being tho outcomo of tho recent deputation in regard to.the Auckland tramways. Power is given to tho Public Works , LVspartmont ,to ■ inspect any, tramways, rolling 6tock, and appliances, ■• and to order any alterations, repairs, or additions that may bo considered necessary to insure the. safety-of the public or employees. If such orders are not complied with in a reasonable' timo ; the; promoters ■ shall be liable to a -fino up to .'JC2O a day during tho period of. noncompliance. Tho Government may make regulations- as to the. inspection' and licensing of tram-cars and the number ■of passengers that' may be carried in- them on • any particular route or grade, prescribing the distance at which cars, may follow; one another, and providing: for such other matters as may be necessary to sccuro the safe and convenient working" of the tramways. Fines up to, .£2O are provided , for non-compliance with these regulations. An important provision: is contained in Clause 5, which provides that the power of licensing carriages used on tramwavs conferred on local authorities by Clause 36. of tho Second Schedule to the principal Act shnll hereafter not- bo exercised by them, but shall bo exercised by the Minister in accordance with regulations made under tho authority of this Act. .Every license heretofore giaßtod by any local authority with respect to'any carriage to bo used on a tramway shall bodcomed to have boon granted" by tho Minister: in accordance, with this section, and that licenso shall continue in forco until, but not after, December 31,. 1910, unless is expires boforo that date in accordance with the tenor thereof.:. .-''.'•, : ..'■-, . :

MASTERTON-'TRUST LANDS EXCHANGE. Tho Masterton Trust • Lands Exchange Bill (which was introduced yesterday) empowors the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees to transfer to the:Crown;all thoir interest in a part, of Section' No. 2 and a part of Section 89 borough of Masterton' in" exchange for another "portion of' Section No. 2 and. by way of 'equality'.of pxclmuge to pay out of any moneys in 'their.' hands the sum'of one hundred'pounds into the public account to the' credit of, the Con* tmtSaUbeA*-'--: ■ ...-■'; '■■:■ ■■.■■■••■ .• ,£s