THE SESSION'S WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10298, 1 November 1911, Page 1

THE SESSION'S WORK.

HUMANITARIAN LEGISLATION PROMINENT. IMPORTANT LABOUR M.EASURI S [From OUR COBJISSI'ONDENT.] « "WELLINGTON,, October 31. A brief session preceding' an election is not supposed to produce a heaw weight Statute Book, but the forty- j\ public Acts passed during the last fou months will have a material influen n on the people's social and industrial conditions. It will be seen from tno summary below that the humanitarian side lias received groat attention, ami that classes of the community most deserving of special consideration ha e received it at the hands of the "Liberal Government. PENSIONS TO WIDOWS.

BENEFITS FOE ORPHANED CHILDREN.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SCHEME. The scope of New Zealand's pension system was greatly extended by two of this session's Acts. Widows with one or more children under sixteen are now entitled, under tho 'Widows Pension Act, to secure a pension regardless of their c-vvn age. This tremendous advance in social and humanitarian legislation is expected to eor-c the State £55,000 per annum, and it will provide tiie following benefits:— Widow with one c®ikl, pension per annum, £l2. Widow with two children, £lB. Widow with three children., £24. Widow with more than three children, £3O. The main pension scheme was further improved by a more liberal interpret ticn of the term " income," enabling pensioners who are at present penalised in reduction of pension if they di small sums, annuities or investments, to get the full pension if their actual income does not exceed £34 per annum. Special consideration is to be given henceforth to parents who have two or more of their children dependent on them when they reach an age at which their daily struggles should be in;"!;) easier. Instead of waiting until the age of sixty-five for the pension, a man may obtain it under these circumstances five years earlier and a woman at fifty-five years. When granting these pensions, the Magistrate will have power to extend the ordinary pension to the extent of £l3 per annum if, in his opinion, the circumstances warrant it. These concessions will cost about £IO,OOO per annum. Maoris numbering about 700 will, it is expected, benefit to the extent of £16,000 per annum through the widened scope of the^ pension scheme, WORKERS' COMPENSATION. DOMESTICS INCLUDED. THE SYSTEM EXTENDED. By an amendment of the Workers Compensation Act ail classes of workers, manual or clerical, earning less than £260 per annum and all manual workers., irrespective of earnings, will obtain tho benefits of compensation for accident. Domestics aro included if they are engaged for a longer period than seven days. Tho law is made clearer and more liberal in regard to assessment of compensation on account of dependents (children will count, whether illegitimate or legitimate), and the facilities for reciprocal arrangements with other oountries in the British Empire to recognise the claims of their subjects tinder the compensation law have been greatly improved. An employer is made liable for any reasonable expenses for first aid and medical or surgical attendanoe incurred immediately after an accident. MILITARY VETERANS RECOGNISED. After many years of petitioning the claims of New Zealand's mihtary veterans were finally disposed of this session by the Military Pensions Act, which enables many persons who served in the Maori war to obtain a military pension in lieu of the old age pension. Special claims were dealt with separately on receipt of a report recommending monetary grants in sixteen cases. It was shown that 7672 persons have at various times been compensated for military services by way of land grants and money grants, totalling £70,767. LUNACY LAW T MODERNISED. MORE HUMANE CONCEPTION. The last vestige of a harsh and inadequate law regarding mental patients disappeared this session when Parliament adopted tho Mental Defectives Act based upon modern humanitarian ideas on the subject. Under the classification of mental defectives the term "lunatic" is abandoned as being too narrow. In the Act six grades aro defined. The first includes persons incapable of managing themselves or their affairs. Next come persons mentally infirm through old age, idiots (those deficient in mind from birth), imbeciles (capable of guarding themselves against common dangers but incapable of earning their own living), feeble minded (those who cannot manage their own affairs with prudence, but who may, under favourable circumstances, earn their living, and epileptics. It is possible under the new Act for a person who knows that lie is liable to recurring attacks of insanity to secure temporary attention in a State institution. The procedure for the detention of the insane has been simplified without removing any safeguards against wrongful detention, and an important new provision under this head makes it obligatory on the superintendents of mental hospitals to annually review the cases under their control, certifying whether further detention is necessary. Whore a mentally defective person has property of value the Public Trustee (or a private committee, if appointed with tho concurrence of tho Supreme Court), undertakes the administration of his affairs. Another important feature of tho measure is explained thus by the Hon George Fowlds. who originated it:—"Society is being protected and the propagation of tho "unfit is receiving a check. It is well-known that women _ of feeble mind give birth to illegitimate children, that their fall is attributable to their mental detect, and +.hafc these children, are greatly defcefc'vo. Such women will, under this Bill, receive tin protection they need." THE LABOUR ASPECT.

DOMINION AWARDS POSSIBLE.. WIT>E EXTENSION OF COMPENSATION BENEFITS. Important Labour legislation was adopted. Tlie Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act givss power to easily secure dominion awards, the cumbrous old procedure being replaced by a method enabling the re-suit to be obtained at one hearing if tho Court is satisfied that proper opportunities have been given to both sidies to present tlieir cs.s-xi. Agreements before the Coneili.'uion Coune.il can now bo turned into awards without

amendment bv tiie Arbitration Court, unless t.lie latter considers thorn uO bo against tne public sood or m e.-icesa or trio powers under tiie Act. _ -uptieais against Magistrates' decisions in breaches of award can bo taken to the Arbitration Court if tho amount involved exceeds '£s. Quarterly sittings of the, Arbitration Court must be held in tho four centres. FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. CLASSIFICATION"AND INCREASED WAGES. State employees have been tho subject of important legislation. An amendment of the Government Railways Act provided for second division employees of the railway service increases of pay aggregating over £70,000. Tho Public Services Classification and Superannuation Act Amendment enables civil servants to transfer from one branch to another without loss of privileges. During the session tho complete scheme of classification for the Public Service was presented to Parliament, and will bo followed by a nominal roll showing the position of all employees uuder the scheme. They will have an opportunity of appealing to the Classification Board, and as soon as these appeals aro completed tho classification list will bo gazetted. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' SAFEi ' GUARDS. The GO.OOO members of friendly societies in Now Zealand aro further safeguarded by the amendment of the Friendly Societies Act, which provides that now societies cannot be registered unless they satisfy the Registrar that their proposed scale of contributions is adequate to meet their promised benefits. Friendly societies may invest their funds on mortgage up to twothirds of tho total value of the security. RATING SYSTEM. Where the rating system is upon the basis of unimproved value local authorities have had a considerable amount of difficulty and extra bookkeeping because the general rate only can bo levied in that way. The Rating Amendment Act provides that all rates, water, sewage, lighting, hospital and charitable aid shall bo charged upon the unimproved value system, if this is approved by a poll of ratepayers. GENERAL. IMPORTANT ACTS PASSED. Gifts up to £IOOO within twelve months of a donor's death are to be exempt from duty. This concession was limited to £SOO until the passing of the Death Duties Amendment Act of this session. The Elingamite inquiry is to be reopened, as there is now evidence ...on the subject of an error in tho charted location of Three Kings, and this may give Captain_ Attwcod an opportunity of charing himself from hlamo. To ensure the clearing up of tho elections in ample time before the Christmas holidays the Second Ballot Act was amended so that all second ballot elections will take place saven days later than tho general election. The M.ining Amendment Act demonstrated that tho .mineral oil industry ia becoming a real factor in New Zealand's many-sided industrial activities. The Act gives the State power to make regulations for tho safe storage of mineral oil and natural gas. Another piece of legislation provides for tho compulsory taking of laud for storage and for pipe lines to refineries or places of shipment.

Improved provision for the payment of the executes of seamen left ashore, sick or intured, is one of the principal features of on amendment of the Shipping and Seamen Act.

As some of New Zealand's technical schools give a course of education in practical engineering almost equal to the universities, both, classes of educational institutions are placed on an equality in regard to their pupils' exemption from examination for the third-cla-ss engineer's certificate. The Tramways Amendment Act, until it reached the committee stage, was a useful, unexciting amending measure, designed mainly to secure the licensing of tram cars frv a central authority,

and the control of motormen's licenses, but in committee arose a storm over what became known as "the Davcy clause." It underwent drastic alteration before getting ou to the .Statute Book, and it now provides iu its restricted form that all new tramway carriages put into 'commission after January 1 " shall be constructed with an aisle or passageway throughout the portion set apar; for passengers." Existing cars or those which will run hefore .1 anuary 1 are not affected by the new law.