POLITICAL NOTES

Timaru Herald, Issue 170269, 14 July 1920, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

NEW BILLS. j CUSTOMS CONSULf DAT lON. j Fiom our Parliamentary Corrcsnundont > WELLINGTON, July 13. The Customs Amendment Bill, .introduced by Message in the irionse today, makes: provision foi" the legal enactment of the decision of Cabinet in regard to the valuation or goods tor' duty in relation to exchange rates. 1 The decision of Cabinet is already ; being acted upon, and, it bus been ex- . plained, the purpose of the Mill is to | alford importers of goods from foreign ! "countries relict from hardship clue to i the varying commercial rates i,f ex- : change as distinguished lioni tin: mintage rates. The Bill makes it i»,.-s----ible for the Minister to decr.ee that , importers shall have their duty assessed on the method which is most art-, vflnbageoiis to them. NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE SUBSIDY". For many years ilie New Zeclawl Institute, the "only oliicial body which "lias to do with science jn New Zealand, has been begging from the Government an 'addition to their annual subsidy; for tho publication of their "Transactions," an annual collection of trealises on scientific subjects and researches, and lor the encouragement of researches. A ({ill has been introduced into the Mouse, under the care of the Minister of Internal Affairs, for tJic increase of the' annual subsidv to the Institute irom .£SOO to .iIIDUO. ItEGTSTERING MASSEURS. Since massage has been accepted ps a recognised and useful aid in the medical treatment of certain ailments, the growth of the number of persons practising massage bus beert great. There is at present no definition of Lho qualifications for people who wish io practice, and tho 'road is open wide to charlatans. There has been introduced a Bill to make provision for the registration of 'masseurs and masseuses. The Bill makes other provisions fallowing. ■ upon a scheme of registrationqualification for registration, and penalties for breaches of the Act, such as that of practising without a license. Two years are allowed to practising masseurs within-which to register, and after that the penalties, which provide for fines up to £2O, are to be operative. After the expiry of two years none but a registered masseur or masseuse is to be employed for massage treatment in any public hospital. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS. Two important local government Bills have been produced this' session

by the 'Government, the Municipal Corporation ?, Bill ami riic Conines Hill. U happens i hat: fur the pres«ni Lilt- Rills are purely consolidating measures, setting out in collected form existing logislal-.-.m. It is probable that during the session (.ho Government will introduce amendments to both Bills, and those amendments will be before members of tho House in ilie clearer shape because- of their having already a modification of existing' law to bund. It is probable- that a special committee will be sot up to consider any amendments proposed by tlie Government..