NEW YEAR'S DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16227, 29 December 1926, Page 7

NEW YEAR'S DAY

WHEN NEW LAWS OPERATE SOME PROVISIONS SURVEYED (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. A statute book of record size, containing the legislative work of last session, is being distributed by the Government Printer, a little earlier than usual, thus avoiding a perennial complaint that" much of our law operates before the lawyers have a copy. The great majority of our statutes *are devised to be effective from the date of . their signature by the Governor-Gen-eral, but some important changes in law have been deliberately held back 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 compensatidn payable for total of partial incapacity. Another) deferred statute of great importance was passed in 1925, but only comes into operation on January 1 next. 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 the 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 purchaser thinks is the usual . pound, or the tobacco-buyer who finds that his “two-ouncc” tin is really one and three-quarters net weight. Stan-

dardisation will prevent price-cutting hv the deceptive methods of weight-cutting. CONSOLIDATION MEASURE. A formidable consolidation measure relating to hospital and charitable insti- • ; tutions 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 uucertiSeated teachers for employment in our schools. Proceedings in the -Magistrate’s Court 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 veterinaiy surgeons is about to operate. This provides for the registration of these practitioners, with a view to ul- ’ ' timatelv securing that none but those who have gone through an academic course may secure registration. GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS. The Guardianship of Infants Act 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 ?o determine questions of principle relating to the custody and upbringing of infants, the statute declaring that- in de ciding the questions “the court shall regard the welfare of the infant as the . fijAfc and paramount consideration, and jAvnot take into consideration whether , Jtonßany other point of view the claim Of the father, or any right at common 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, and 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 Welchurch and Dunedin, down to £75 per annum where the fire district contains not more than 15,000 inhabitants. Two important policy measures, Rural Advances, and the Local Government \Loan Board Act, do not come into force v until April 1 next, which is also the date for payment of the first instalments of the allowances to mothers under the Family Allowanoe Act of last session. In repeating that mosl of the 845 pages of statutes passed last session did not wait for January 1 to operate, it is, worth reminding cyclists that one of the Act 9 which became enforcible immer diatelv on passing was that which requires the carrying of a reflector on the Tear 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.