NEW BILLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7231, 18 October 1901, Page 1

NEW BILLS.

[From Our Special Correspondent.] ', ... ' WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS'. „- The Payment of Members Bill, brought down by -Governor's Message, proposes to pay members .of the . Legislative Council £5200 a year (an increase of £50), and members of the House of Representatives £300 'a year (am increase of £60). It is to come into force on 'Jan. 1, 1902. STATE COAL MINES. , A Bill to enable the Crown to acquire andT work coal mines in the colony was also brought down by Governors Message di> the 'House. It proposes to empower the ' Governor to set apart any unalienated (Crown lands which, in his opinion, contain coal or may be required for coal mining operations under the Act. • A Land Board py jany.. other .authority charged •. with the disposal of Crown lands must before disposing «f them ascertain: whether they contain coai, and if they do, the fact must be reported to the Governor, and. without his consent they must not be disposed cf. Lands so set- apart or lands resumed or acquired are to be dealt 'wioh , under this Act, . bufc power is given the Governor to excjppt such lands or mines from the operation of the Act, and to lease any lands until they are acquired by the Crown- for coal • mining purposes. The Bill further snakes it lawful for the Minister to open and work coal mines "and generally to carry on the business of coal mining in all its branches; and for this purpose he is inrested with power to appoint managers, engineers,' agents, and workmen, and to construct or acquire by lease or purchase plant, machinery, tramways, hulks, ships and other appb'ances." After the State requirements have been provided for lie may sell and deliver coal and other products ■which, aye the result of coal mining operations, enter into contracts and generally do anything that the owner of a coal mine might lawfully do sin the working of a mine. When a coal mine is resumed by the Crcwrn the owners' contracts are to be transferred to the Minister, but even' resumption is to be subject to the approval <pf Parliament. In order to raise funds for the payment of compensation or purchase moneys- the Colonial Treasurer is* empowered to raise any sum. not exceeding £150,000 from any balances in any of the accounts knentioned' in part 8 of the Public Revenues Act, 1891, Post Office, Government Insurance Office. Trust Office, and the Commissioners of tfte Public Debts Sinking Funds, from the Public Works Fnnd, or from any bank, monetary institution or person. It is further provided that as security, for such loans debentures may be issued having a currency of not more than forty years, and bearing interest at the rate of not" more than 4 per cent per. annum. Accounts are to be kept of each coal mine and a balancesheet prepared, and any surplus profits are to-be applied in establishing a sinking fund. If the profits exceed 5 per cent the price of coal may be reduced th& following year. TENSIONS FOR CONTINGENTERS. The Military Pensioners Bill is designed to include the Sixth and Seventh Contingents in the previous Military Pensions Act. It also proposes/that the annual allowance payable undek section 12 of the Act of 1866 shall be payable to the. mother o£ any ofiicer, non-commissioned officer or private, who is .not a. widow, in base her husband is incapable through infirmity of earning her livelihood. LOCAL BODIES LOANS. The Bill brought down by Governor's Message is a measure of over one hundred clauses. It empowers a local authority to raise a special loan for any public work, and it also proposes that such special loan may be raised for the benefit of some deJined part of a district, and that a local authority may unite with one or more other loci.l authorities (including Borough Councils) in raising a joint special loan for any authorised purpose which is declared by resolution of each of the local authorities Concerned to be of benefit to their respective districts. Before a special loan is 'raised the consent of the ratepayei's of the district must be obtained, and is to be carried by three-fifths of the total number of valid votes recorded. Special loans may be raised without a poll in certain cases, such as for repaying an overdraft, paying off or consolidating a special loan, and so on. The loatns must be raised by the issue of debentures at not more than 5 per cent, and for a term of not more than fifty years. Provision is to be made for repayment at a stated period, and sinking funds •re to be Tested in Commissioners. Part % of the Act deals with Government Loans to Local Bodies, and empowers the Government to lend money to any local authority for certain public works. It also provides that out of the moneys authorised to be borrowed for the purpose of instiling loans to local authorities the Colonial Treasurer may apply £5000 for opening up land for settlement, but this !is not to apply to land acquired under the Lahd for Settlements Act, 1900.