NEW LAWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 December 1926, Page 4

NEW LAWS.

OPERATE ON NEW YEARS’ DAY. SOME PROVISIONS SURVEYED SRECIAX TO THE STAR. ' WI2I.BINCTOX. Dec. 2S. A statute-book, of record size, containing the legislative work oi Est session is being distributed by the Government printer a little earlier than usual, thus avoiding a perennial complaint that much of our law operate? before the lawyers have a copy. Toe great majority of our statutes are devised to be effective from the date ot their .signature by the Governor-Gen-eral, but some important changes in law have been deliberately held hack from enforcement until January 1. a notable instance being the liberalising of the Workers’ Compensation Act, which raises to £IOOO the amount payable in respect of the death of a worker. and increases substantially the compensation payable for total or partial incapacity. . Another deferred statute of great importance was passed in 1925. but only comes into operuut iotl on January inext. This is the Weights and Measures Act, bringing the New Zealand law into line with that of Britain and giving power to make regulations prohibiting the sale of specified goods in packages of other than prescribed net weights or measures. This is to meet the practice of some packers of proprietary lines who give 14 ounces in packages which the average person thinks is the usual pound, or the to-bacco-buyer who finds that his twoounce tin is really one and three-quar-ters net- weight. Standardisation will prevent, .price-cutting by the deceptive method of weight-cutting. A formidable consolidation measure relating to hospital, and charitable institutions operates from January 1, when the Town Planning Act also comes into full force. A short amendment of the Education Act will then operate, reducing the eligible age for junior national scholars to 13, and finally disposing of the system of licensing uncertified teachers for employment in our schools.

Proceedings in the Magistrate’s Courts will be facilitated by the amending Act operating on New Year’s day, one feature being an extension of the powers of Justices, who will be able under certain conditions to issue attachment orders, subject to final confirmation by a stipendiary magistrate. This is going to be of importance to country creditors, who cannot get quick access to a stipendiary when they need an order.

New Zealand law controlling the discharge of oil into territorial waters is considerably strengthened by an amendment coming into .force, in January, bringing the law into line with British practice. Another new- statute of interest to veterinary- surgeons i-s .about to operate. This provides for the registration of these practitioners, with a view to ultimately securing that none but those who have gone through an academic course may secure registration. The Guardianship of Infants is another example of legislation in New Zealand following the lead of Britain. The law relating to guardianship is now more explicit and comprehensive. The Supreme Court is given power to determine questions of principle relating to the custody and upbringing of infants, the statute declaring that in deciding these questions the court shall regard; the welfare of the infant as- the first and paramount consideration, and shall not take into consideration whether from another point of view the claim by the father, or any right at com-man law possessed by the'father in respect of such upbringing custody or administration of property in trust for an infant is superior to that of the mother, or the claim, of the mother is superior to that of the father.” The father or the mother of an infant may by deed appoint a guardian after the death of the person making this provision, land the statute contains provision covering the possibility of disputes between the guardian and the surviving parent. The Fire Brigades Act as consolidated, comes into force on January 1, and with it a new scale of State contributions, ranging from £4OO in the case of Wellington and £3OO for Auckland, Christ church and Dunedin, down to £75 per annum where the fire district contains not more than 15,(XX) inhabitants. •

Two important policy measures, Rural Adanoes, and the Local Government Loan Board Act, do not come into force until April 1 next, which is also the date, for payment of the first- instalments of the allowances to mothers u nder the Family Allowance Act of last session.

In .repeating that most of the 845 pages of statute® passed last session did not wait for January 1 to operate, it is worth reminding cyclists that one of the Acts which became enforcible immediately on passing wa>s that which requires the carrying of a reflector on the rear of bicycles. Apparently the authorities are giving time to the trade to import sufficient reflectors to meet the demand, hut in due course the police will commence to take notice of those Who cycle without this little safeguard.