A.—l.

21

Part IV (Erection of Workers' Dwellings by Harbour Boards) : This Part of the Act empowers Harbour Boards to acquire land and to erect dwellings thereon for disposal by way of sale or lease to Harbour Board employees. With respect to such dwellings, Harbour Boards have conferred on them the same powers as they have under the Harbours Act, 1908, with respect to harbour-works. Part V (Erection of Workers' Dwellings by other Local Authorities): This Part enables County Councils and Borough Councils to borrow money from the State Advances Office for the erection of workers' dwellings. Any such loans may be raised without taking a poll of the ratepayers. For the purposes of this Part of the Act the Minister of Finance is empowered to borrow annually an additional sum of £1,000,000. Part VI (Advances to Workers under State Advances Act) : This Part amends the definition of "worker" in the State Advances Act, 1913, so as to correspond with the definition in Part 1. It also increases the maximum amount that may be lent to any one borrower under Part 111 of the State Advances Act, 1913, from £450 to £750. Part VII (Restriction on Increase of Rent) : This Part amends the temporary legislation relating to the restriction of rents, and provides that a Magistrate shall not make an order for the possession of any dwellmghouse if he is satisfied that the making of such an order would be a case of undue hardship to the tenant. Part VIII (Erection of Staff Residences by Banks) : This Part empowers banking institutions carrying on business in New Zealand to acquire land and erect dwellings thereon for disposal by sale or lease to officers employed in the service of the bank. 1919, No. 33.—The Electric-power Works Loan Act, 1919.—This Act empowers the Minister of Finance to borrow the sum of £6,830,000 in respect of the several electric-power schemes enumerated in the schedule. 1919, No. 34. —The Railways Authorization Act, 1919. —This Act authorizes the construction of the several railways enumerated in the schedule to the extent indicated in that schedule. 1919, No. 35. —The Mining Amendment Act, 1919.—This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Mining Act, 1908. Inter alia, it provides for the following matters: — (1.) For the use of axial water-feed rock-drills in all mines after the Ist October, 1920 : (2.) The protection of the surface of land suitable for agricultural or pastoral purposes in respect of dredging operations : (3.) Prohibiting mining operations for mineral-oils or natural gases except pursuant to a license issued in that behalf by a Warden : (4.) Extending the purposes for which loans may be granted under Part X of the Mining Act, 1908. Such extended purposes include — (a.) The carrying-on of quarrying or coal-mining operations; (b.) The extraction, rectification, storage, and transport of oil; and (c.) The erection, reconstruction, or repair of dwellings by the owners of coal-mines for the use of their employees. 1919, No. 36.—The Maori Representation Act:, 1919.—This Act enables the next general election of representatives of the Maori race to be conducted without the necessity of compiling a roll of electors. 1919, No. 37.—The Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws Continuance Act, 1919. —This Act revives certain enactments which had been inadvertently permitted to expire, and continues them in operation until the 31st August, 1920. 1919, No. 38.—The Government Railways Amendment Act, 1919.—This Act provides a new schedule of salaries and increments to be paid to the officers and servants employed in the Government Railways Department. 1919, No. 39. —The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1919. —This Act makes various amendments of the law relating to the disposition of land belonging to the Crown. For the purpose of facilitating the purchase by the Crown of privately owned land for disposal under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Acts and the Land for Settlements Acts, provision is made for the establishment of a Dominion Land Purchase Board, and for such number of local Land Purchase Boards as may ba required. Section 11 provides for the disposal of areas of pumice-land and for other land of little value on a special tenure, the terms of which are set out in the section. The special features of the tenancy are — (1:) That the licensee receive a license to occupy the land free of rent or other charge: (2.) Such license is for a term of ten years, renewable from time to time for a like term : (3j) A limit is placed upon the area of laud that may be acquired by any one licensee: (4.) Within twelve mouths from the issue of a license, and thereafter during its continuance, the licensee is required to reside on the land : (5.) After the expiration of seven years a licensee who has complied with all the terms of the license may be granted the fee-simple. The Minister of Finance is empowered to borrow annually the sum of £1,000,000 for the purpose of enabling the Minister of Lands to assist licensees under the said section in the development of the lands comprised in their licenses. Section 20 makes further provision for the purpose of checking the aggregation of interests in land contrary to the public welfare. It provides that where land has been so acquired and has been resumed by the Crown the maximum compensation payable is not to exceed the Government valuation by more than 10 per cent, thereof. Section 27 increases the maximum value of allotments of land that may be acquired under the Land Settlement Finance Act, 1909, from £2,500 to £6,000. 1919, No. 40.—The Coal-mines Amendment Act, 1919.—This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Coal-mines Act, 1908. Inter alia, it enacts various rules of a technical nature designed to further protect the safety of workmen engaged in coal-mines. Section 13 enables the Crown to acquire areas of coal-bearing land for the purpose of State coal-mines.