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1920 No 47 - -The Counties Act, 1920.—This Act is a consolidation and amendment of the Counties Act 1908 and the other enactments mentioned in the Third Schedule to this Act. The form of the original Act has been preserved, but a number of verbal alterations have been made in the provisions consolidated, together with a large, number of machinery amendments. Many new powers are also conferred on County Councils. Section 15 enables neighbouring islands to be included in a county. Section 30 makes further provisions regarding the merger of road districts The provisions dealing with electors and elections have been amended, particularly with regard to the miner's-right qualification and the date of county elections, Defaulting ratepayers are disqualified from voting. Section 123 removes the limit on sanitation rates. Section 129 confers on County Councils the power to borrow by way of temporary loan, ine half-yearly balance-sheet has been, abolished, and various other amendments of the provisions dealing with county accounts have been made. Section 178 considerably extends the powers of County Councils to make drainage by-laws. Section 182 enables the Governor-General to confer on County Councils certain powers of Borough Councils. -The powers of County Councils with respect to fire-prevention, supply of electricity, workers' dwellings, cemeteries, public libraries, and other institutions have been extended, and they are empowered to contribute towards the cost of war memorials, to purchase and sell rabbit-proof wire netting, and to establish cattle-dips. A number - of the. provisions of the 1908 Act respecting counties in which the Act is suspended have been omitted as no longer necessary. 1920 No. 48.—The Municipal Corporations Act, 1920.—This Act consolidates and amends the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, and the other enactments mentioned m the Twelfth Schedule to this Act. The form of the original Act has been preserved. A large number oi machinery amendments have been made, and the powers of Borough Councils have been considerably extended. Borough Councils are empowered to leave unfilled vacancies occurring within six months before a biennial election. When the biennial election falls on Anzac Day (2otn April) it is to be held on the following day. The limit of the general rate that may be levied by a BoroiKdi Council, is raised from 2s. on the annual or 6 farthings on the capital value to Zs. bcl. and 2d respectively. The, limit of the sanitation rate has been removed. A separate drainage rate may be made, and authority is given by section 95 to consolidate general and other rates. Section 96 empowers Borough Councils rating on the unimproved or the capital value to make their own valuations of new buildings. Important new provisions arc contained m 1 art Alii (Accounts). Borough Councils are required to keep profit and loss accounts m respect of their trading undertakings. They are empowered to establish fire-insurance funds, and (in respect ol their trading undertakings) accident, renewal, and reserve funds; the provisions as to constitution and alteration of boroughs are extended, and the division of a borough into wards may be declared to be for purposes of representation only. Section 164 (J) authorizes the borrowing and expending of moneys for th<; purpose of improving and developing borough endowments. Section 166 confers a power to purchase land on a system of time-payment. By sections and 180 respectively it is provided that no street or private street with a grade of more than lin in 12 in. shall bo laid out without, the consent of the' Minister of Public Works. The powers of Councils with respect to the removal of overhanging trees have been extended by section 205 (1) (c) The powers of Councils with respect to common private drains have been extended by sections 224 and 226. The hours within which Council officers may enter private premises to inspect water appliances are. extended by section 237. By section 267 Councils may light private streets at the public expense, and section 269 contains additional provisions respecting the sull p|y of gas and electricity to private persons. Section 288 (g) enables Councils to purchase land, erect buildings, provide plant, and purchase stock in connection with the supply ol milk. Paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 322 (I) are taken from section 13 of the Cost of Living Act, 1915, but paragraph (f) is an important new provision enabling the Governor-General to authorize the establishment by Borough Councils of any other trading undertakings deemed to be necessary or desirable in the interests of the citizens. The powers of Councils with regard to workers dwellings have, been extended. Part XXXIX contains important new town-planning provisions Under it no Land in a, borough may henceforth be subdivided for sale or lease or other disposal without the consent of the Council. By section 374 (2) references in the Town Boards Act, 1908, andrits amendments to provisions in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, are deemed to be references to the corresponding provisions in this Act, and, except, as maybe otherwise specifically provided, those references shall include; amendments of or additions to the relative provisions of this Act that may hereafter be made. . 1920 No 49—The Housing Amendment Act, 1920.—This Act amends in various particulars the Housing Act 1919, and the rent-restriction provisions of Part I of the War Legislation Amendment Act 1916. Section 2 empowers the Crown to acquire a leaselwld interest in land acquired for workers' dwellings. Section 3 confers special leasing-powers on the Board constituted under the principal Act. The maximum prices of dwellings arc, increased to £900 and £1,000 by section 4 Section 8 adds to section 29 of the principal Act certain other purposes for which moneys in the' Housing Account may be expended. By section 12 public servants are empowered to promote companies for the purposes of Part II of the principal Act Section 13 provides for the dying of assistance to public-utility societies to carry out schemes for the provision of workers homes Section 14 empowers the State Advances Office to lend money for the acquisition of land for workers' dwellings, and section 15 empowers Harbour Boards to borrow money for the acquisition of Land ami erection of workers' dwellings. Sections 16 to 22 contain modifications and extensions of Part 1 of the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1916, and other enactments