GOVERNMENT BILLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2626, 13 July 1904, Page 14

GOVERNMENT BILLS.

NEW LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS.

(FjtOll OrE O\YX CORRSSPO^nENT.) SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

The School Attendance B.U introduced by tho Cto\ cnimonfc provides some new mach.nery <"or prosecutions for non-atten-dance, at school. A method of serving the parent with a not ; cc is provided, and the production of Ihe school roll in court is to be -sufficient evidence that the child is en -oiled at the school and of the number ef attendances.

REFERENDUM

The Referendum Bill is the bill of last year with the pliraseo'opry altered in some re<speet=, th^ enly alterafion in the effect of tho b'll being in clause 16, which fet.s forth certa'n mat teas to wh ; ch the referendum cannot apjlv. The exceptions in last year's bill were propagate dealing with pubic works of a local character, parliamentary procedr.'-o, or anything- deelnred by the Heiis 15 of Representatives to be> matter of urj-cney To tin's Tre new bill adds 2'r°posals denliptr with the raising: of monov, the rove:me= of the Crown, taxation, or imposine burden^ upon pfople. or with the consutution or abolition of the Legislative. Council, or tho franchise for the e'ccliou of mcmbe'« of the Kou-e of Reprosentaiives The mam feat"'-c ef tlie bi!l is that when a bill or proposal has been i-a=s PC l by one Hourp and twice rejected by th-e other, it sha 1 be consideied by a conference of roprpipnta^ues of both Houses, who shall report v. hethei- the bill should be passed, reiect^d. amended, or submitted to a referendirn. The form of ballot paper provided is new, the voter being required to vrnrk the proposal he favours by a cross in tead cf striking out the line he does not favour.

WIXE ADT-LTERATIOX.

Last yep.r'« Wipe Adulteration Bill, which was tluown out towards the end of Ibe ces-■-ion as a piotest asaiii'i the delay in bringing down Oovprnmeiit business, has again made its appeaiancc this year under the tirlo of Wjho Adulri ration Prevention Bill The "1-t of =ul stance^ that may be added tn wiiio and of foroiaii sul>lanres prohibited to Ije u;ed is rather fuller, but otheiwise the bill has 1101 been altered.

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS

The Payment to Members Bill proposes to rencal th.> old acts 1 elating- to pnvnwnt of membw It proposes to continue the present payment to menners of £300 a year to lneuibers of rba Hnn=e a.id £200 to memb r« of tho T<?gi«lativo Council. Fonrtor>n finy«' nb^-^nc" during the sc-sion a'-e allowed \viti.o\ii- deduction, but alter 14day £2 a c'av i^ to l-"> deducted from memhr>i^ of tlio Hoii=:o and 25s from members of tho Council As previously, no deduct inn i- to be made for ab-rnee on account of iFnp" or other una\ nidsiblo (a\i-o. If a member of the Le^islilive Council obtains lca\o of aL-ence fnm the Go\ onini- for a wbo'e ses-ion he shall not receive paymc-nt tuihl ne\t =.fsop. Travelling ex]~cn-es to and fiom "Wpllmaton to attend tho se^ion are aI.T allowed to members. The salary of the Sne.'iker is fixed at £600. Chauman of Coinmiiu-ps in ihe Hcu-c of Rcpic-cnta-ti\(.=! £400. and Chaii'tnrn of Committees in the L^iAiur^ Council £300.

riRE BRK4ADES

Thn Fire Bii^nclc= Bill bion.^ht in by Oa\einrir'^ !Me-.-aic to-day is almost identical with the Fire Prevention Bill of last year. The only material alteration 13 the addition of clauses giving the Go", ernor power to mile iwo or more boroughs into one fire dii-tr.iit.Jbut except where this power i^ o\eiascd the fire districts arc to be the f-amo as la^t year — namely, every borough with a population of 1000 or o\er. The const ltuiion of the fire, board is as proposed last j ear. and there is the .same allocation ci tlie cobt of upkeep of firo brigades---

r.ami '}•. one half by the u'si'-f'Tr ro>r.ra''ie < 3 a. d o.ic-l.alf by tl.» lcc-1 a-itb->r-ity Tba powers imkl duhr= of 11." fue 1 oai't .i.id fire. <■upc.ii ii' '"'cnt a-o d-'fi".'- i a- L. t jenr. i-nd the- o'tu o me ii'riu fc^ tie rci'.rppir-iu of pxis-t'JA' ni'tli c>pal br'..iJo- 1 " .i; ha -l'c d o\ir withot't paynu iU to tl.c tire boards ia als-o in the new bill.

RATING NATIVE LANDS

Tho Rating on Native Lnnt's Bill, brought down by the Native Minister, provides th?t Native land-* at present paying half-rates shall be liable for full and special rates. Land* belonging to indigent Natives and papakainsa land, set apart for tho support of individual members of the tribe, will be e\empt ss at present.