SESSION’S WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 13 June 1936, Page 12

SESSION’S WORK

LIST OF ACTS PASSED IN FIRST STAGE FAR-REACHING LEGISLATION (Fi'om ‘‘The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, This Day. Legislative measures passed during the first part of the new Parliament’s initial session are as follow: PUBLIC ACTS Broadcasting Act.—Abolishes the Broadcasting Board, and makes provision for Ministerial control of broadcasting, the appointment of a Director of Broadcasting, and establishment of commercial stations owned and controlled by Government. Distress and Replevin Amendment Act.—Takes away the power of a landlord to distrain on the goods of a tenant as a means of ejecting him for non-payment of rent without reference to the court.

Employment Promotion Act.— Changes the name of the unemployment fund and unemployment relief tax to employment promotion fund and employment tax respectively, abolishes the Unemployment Board, and transfers the administration of unemployment to the Labour Department under the control of the Minister.

Factories Amendment Act.—Limits hours of work in factories, fixes minimum wage, and increases rates of pay for overtime. Fair Rents Act.—Restricts increases in rents for dwelling-houses, with that paid on Ist May as the basis, and enables a magistrate to fix a fair rent on application of either landlord or tenant. Does not apply to residential fiats. This Act expires on 30th September, 1937. Government Railways Amendment Act.—Abolishes the Railways Board and restores to the Minister of Railways and General Manager the administration of New Zealand railways and allied services. Imprest Supply Act.—Measures by this name come before Parliament at intervals while it is in session, and are for the purpose of making financial accommodation for public services. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act.—Restores to Arbitration Court its former jurisdiction, authorises the court to fix basic rates of wages, provides for 40-hour week in industry where practicable, the formation of Dominion unions, and compulsory unionism. Labour Department Amendment Act.—Provides for the appointment of a Secretary of Labour, to be administrative head of the Labour Department. Also defines functions of department. League of Nations Sanctions Regulations' Confirmation Act.—Validates and confirms regulations made under authority of League of Nations Sanctions (Enforcement in New Zealand) Act.

Primary Products Marketing Act.— Authorises appointment of a Minister of Marketing, the establishment of a Primary Products Marketing Department, and appointment of administrative officers. The Act gives the Government power to acquire primary products at prices to be fixed from time to time, and to market through the department those commodities in which it has acquired ownership or assumed control. Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Act.—Gives the Government control of credit and currency in the Dominion. It cancels the private share capital in the Reserve Bank, increases the authority of the bank to grant accommodation to the Treasury, and authorises the bank to grant overdrafts for the purchase and marketing of New Zealand produce. State Advances Corporation Act.— Alters the name Mortgage Corporation to State Advances Corporation, cancels the private share capital in the corporation, and reconstitutes the board of management. Transport Licensing Amendment Act.—Abolishes the Transport Co-or-dination Bo.ard, protects the Railway Department where it acquires or carries on passenger services,, and constitutes the Minister of Transport the sole licensing authority for aircraft services. LOCAL ACTS Napier Harbour Board and Napier Borough Enabling Act. New Plymouth Land Exchange and Empowering Act. Taupiri Drainage and River Board Empowering Act. PRIVATE ACTS Molyneux Gold Dredging Company (Claims Amalgamation) Act. Michael Connelly Validation Act. Thomas George Macarthy Trust Act. ■ United Wheatgrowers Act. William George David Brown Trust Act.