WIDE VARIETY OF CLAUSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23372, 1 December 1945, Page 4

WIDE VARIETY OF CLAUSES

Statutes Amendment Bill

First Reading In House

(N.Z.P.A.i WELLINGTON. Nov. 30. Ninety-five clauses amend’r.g a large number of Acts are contained in the Statutes Amendment Bill introduced and read for a first time in the House of Representatives to-day. A requirement in the Companies Act that every company shall each year file a complete list of shareholder.- is amended by providing for a full list every three year? with particuiars of transfers to be filled in the intervening two years. County councils are aut.io. t.-ed to contribute to the maintenance o f public libraries, halls and similar institutions outside the countv boundaries. They are also authorised

to makfr by-laws defining stock routes and regulating the driving of stock Members of the Armed Forces are declared servants of the Crown for the put poses of claims under the Crown Suits Amendment Act. so that the Crown will be under the- same liability for their wrongful acts a- a private employer would be under in respect of his servants. There is also a similar provision for claims against members of visiting Forces and this provision is made tetroscective to 1942. The Bill authorises the making of regulations providing that membership of a railways service organisation shall be a condition of emplo"ment on State railways. Tire Minister of Railways (the Hon. R. Scmrle* is given power to exempt any employee or class of employees from the provision of the regulations. One clause imposes the same continuing liabilit" on the landlord as is already imposed on the owner of a house erected or rebuilt, to provide an adequate water supply, or sufficient privy accommodation for a dwellin'’ house. Jurors' Age Increased The maximum age for jurors is increased to 65. the present maximum being GO. There is provision that a Grand Jury shall not be required to attend when there is no criminal business.

The New Zealand University is authorised to grant degrees in Divinity. Massey and Canterbury Agricultural Colleges are to have one representative each on the Academic Board. There is a clause providing for the formation of a queue iii public places where directed by a constable. It. i« to be an offence to break into a auctr or to refuse to comply with any directions of a constable as to a queue. Pr~v - ion is made for the variation of conditions of .sharemilling agreement and of the war es and conditions of ar i'Ultural workers on the recommendation of the Arbitration Court in cases where organisations of employers and workers cannot agree. This definition of servi-emen is extended to bring within its scope persons who were mobilised for overseas service, but who never proceeded overseas owing to illness or other cause Offences relating to the misuse of the telephone are extended and the use of foui language over the telephone or sending of fictitious messages are now punishable by a fine of £5O or three months' imprisonment. The Bill contains a clause amending the Printers and Registration Act. 1908. which requires that the printer who prints any paper or book for publication shall print bis name and place of abode therein. The Act prescribes the penalty but in a recent Supreme C'rirt case the full court held that owing to an apparent omm.Lsion the Drip”-!-was net liable under section 19. The clause in the Bill makes it clear that the printer is liable for penalty if ’-e fails to print his name. The penalty may be up to £lOO Catchment Board Rates Catchment boards are empowered to levy a rate of not more than Id in the £ on capital value for the provision of plant, afforestation and the establishment of the maintenance of minor river control works on uni’orm basis. It is provided however, that with certain exceptions this general rate shall not be used for any works without the approval of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council. Authority for the destruction ol deer on private property is given, the purpose being to make it unnecessary ‘p obtain the owner's or occupier's consent where the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) authorises the entry on to private land. Tuberculin testing of all cattle on the premises from which the milk is supplied for human consumption is authorised. It is intended first to deal with farms, the milk from which is not pasteurised and later to deal with t’*e remaining farms. Compensation will be paid for stock condemned on the result of the tuberculin test on a basis higher than that applying to condemnation on other grounds. Tuberculin testing may be extended later to other dairy herds. Restrictions are Imposed on boxing for thermal or mineral water the purpose being to prevent wasteful and haphazard use of thermal and mineral water. It is stated that already at Rotorua some difficulty is experienced in securing adequate supplies of hot mineral water to meet the spa's needs. A clause transfers jurisdiction in respect of the licensing of commercial aircraft services from the Minister of Transport (the Hon. J. O’Brien) to the Minister in charge of the Air Department (the Hon. F. Jones). Another clati'e deals attempts to convert motor cars I has been found that persons intending to take a vehicle endeavour to open the door preparatory- to driving away. The clause makes such acts an offence and extend- th” power of arrest of persons who actually convert vehicles so that persons attempting to convert vehicles • may be arrested.