SOME NEW MEASURES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 650, 31 May 1882, Page 2

SOME NEW MEASURES.

The following measures will, amongst others, receive attention during the present Parliamentary session:— Fire Brigades Bill —Mr Levestam’s Fire Brigades Bill provides for the maintenance by local bodies (by special rate, if necessary) of brigades. The clauses relating to contributions by insurance companies have been deleted. Eight Hours Bill. —The following is an epitome of Mr M. W. Green’s Eight Hours Bill:—It provides that from and after the Ist of January, 1883, eight hours out of every twenty-four of the legal working days of the week shall constitute a legal day’s work, and forty-eight hours a week’s work “ in all occupations ivhether of a mental or physical nature.” That all work or labor performed in excess of this time shall be deemed overtime, and be paid for at the same rate as the ordinary hours of the legal day, or at such other rate as may be agreed upon between employer and employed. The proposed exceptions to the operation of the Act are domestic servants and persons employed in dairies, and all persons engaged in avocations such as allow of a lesser number of hours to be worked than those above defined.

Industrial Schools Bill. —Mr Dick’s Industrial Schools Bill contains seventytwo clauses, and provides for the establishment, maintenance, and abolition of industrial schools; how children may become inmates, for the guardianship, transfer, and discharge ol inmates, and provides power to make regulations ; also to visit religious institutions, etc. Also fur the inmates being licensed out to reside with persons outside the schools, and for apprenticing them to trades. Penalties for offences are provided, and various miscellaneous provisions appended. Prevention op Purchase of Votes Bill. —Sir George Grey’s Prevention of Purchase of Votes Bill contains only two operative clauses, which run thus:—(l.) “From and after the passing of this Act no elector shall, at any general election of members of the House of Representatives, vote in respect of more than one electorate. (2) At any other than general elections no elector shall vote in respect of any electorate unless ho shall have voted in such electorate at the last election held therein, or unless ho bo a resident elector of such electoral district. ”