NEW BILLS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 6

NEW BILLS.

THE PUBLIC DEBT. AN EXTINCTION .SCHEME.. The Public Debt Extinction Bill was introduced in tho House yesterday. A board is to be constituted, consisting of the Commissioners of the Public Dobts Sinking Funds, established by Section 47 of the Loan Act, 190S, with the addition of the Superintendent uf the State-Guaranteed Advances office Tho members of the board will therefore be: the Minister for Finance, the Speaker of tho House of Representatives, the Controller and Auditor-Gon-eral, and the Superintendent of tho Advances office. Section 8 of the Bill provides that within thirty days after tho end of each financial year the Con 7 trailer and Auditor-General shall furnish the Minister with a certificate showing: (a) The total amount of tho public debt of New Zealand; (b) the sum which, if invested each year at compound interest at four pounds per cent, per annum (or such rate of interest as may be determined under the provisions of Section 10 of the Act), would in seventy-five years equal such amount. After the end of the financial year, 1915, the interest, instead of being calculated at four pounds per cent./ shall be the actual average net interest earned by the funds invested under the Act during the previous three years. Provjsion is made for the' payment of tho principal to the Superintendent out of she Consolidated.Fund. The funds (aa already stated by the Prime Minister in tho Budget) are to be invested by tho- State Advances Office in loans to settlors, to workers, and to local. authorities under the Act of 1909. The limits of loans are to be: To settlers and workers, ten years; to local authorities, .40 years; or the loans may be granted on the instalment system, repayable in any term not exceeding 1 36$ years. The funds are not to bo invested in Government securities. The board is empowered to employ necessary agents and. officers in New Zealand, England, or elsewhere, as may be neces-. sary for the carrying out of the objects of the Act, and the expenses of administration are to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. An 'annual statement is to be laid before Parliament. Tho funds are to be kept apart from the other moneys of the Advances' Office, and managed by a branch called the Public Debt Sinking Funds Branch. The making, of regulations by Order-in-Covflicil are provided for as follow:— (a) The conduct of the business of the board; (b) prescribing what accounts, registers, and other books shall be kept, and in what form; the investment of surplus funds; (d) any purpose deemed to bo necessary.for the efficient administration of the Act.

SICK AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE

The National Sick and.Accident Insurance Bill, which the Hon. Mr. Guinness has introduced will, if . carried, come into force on Juno 1, 1911, and will apply to the employment of all persons whose average weekly earnings do nob exceed five pounds. The National Sick and Accident Fund is to be contributed 'to by employers and workers and out of it the Public Trustee is to pay to any worker incapacitated, by sickness or ! accident, whether injured in the course of his em.p'loyment or not, one-half the worker's average weekly wage with a minimum payment of £1 per week. Tho compensation so payable shall in no case exceed' £250 in ■ the case of temporary incapacity, or £500 in the ease of permanent incapacity. The word "employer" shall include the Crown in all cases except as regards workers.employed in the naval or military service of tho Crown. No compensation shall be paid where tftie accident is attributable to the wilful misconduct of the worker or where death of incapacity is caused, continued, or aggravated by unreasonable refusal to submit to medical or surgical treatment inconsiderable, in view of the seriousness of too injury or disease ' > THE TRAMWAYS BILL. .Some important provisions are contained in' the Tramways Act Amendment Bill which was circulated yesterday and which; if passed, will come into operation at the beginning of next year. On and after January 1, 1912, every person employed as the driver on any tramway of any carriage or other rolling stock of which- electricity is the motive power stall be tho holder of an electric tram driver's. certificate issued by the Board of Examiners appointed under tho Inspection of Machinery Act, 1908. The board may grant certificates of service to any person of good rcqute who not later than June 30, 1911, produces evidence to tho satisfaction of the board that lib was for a period of not less than ono year at any, time before the passing of this Act employed as a motormau or was the holder of a mdtorman's license granted under, any by-law made by a local authority. On and -after January 1, 1912; every person who ado as a driver of any such ■carriage or other rolling stock, without being the holder-of a certificate under this section, and tho prompters of any tramway on which any such uncertifieated driver is employed, shall be severally liable to a tine not .exceeding fivepounds for every part of a day during which such uncertificatpd driver so acts.

Clause 3 provides that tho Minister may from time to time authorise any proper person to inspect uuy traiuway, whether in course of construction ;ii- open for' traffic,, and - the rolling stock used or to he used thereon. Mid tho plant, appliances, and machinery —■xA or to he- used in connection therewith, ,iud if the order of flu- Minister is not complied with within a reasonable time (to he stated in. tho order), tho promoters shall he liable to a hne not exceeding twenty pounds for every day during which such noncompliaiico continues. A certificate is to be given before the tramway is opened. . ■ ' Regulations may be made providing for the periodical and other inspection of carriages used on tramways; licensing nf such carriages, and prohibiting the use on any tramway of any unlicensed carriage; prescribing the maximum number of passengers that may be carried on any carriago on any particular route or grade; prescribing the limit of spu.'d at. which' any carriage may travel on any, particular routo or grade, providing for tho use of proper appliances ami furnishings on carriages to insure the safety and convenience of passengers of the tramway employees, and of tho general public; providing for a fine not exceeding twenty pounds for .the breach of any regulation made under the authority of this section; and defining tramway districts and the boundaries thereof, and providing for the setting-up of an Appeal Board in each such district and tho procedurerelating to appeals to the board. If any such regulation is inconsistent with the provisions of any Order-in-Council authorising tho construction and working of any tramway, then the regulation shall prevail and the inconsistent provision in the authorising order shall be deemed to be revoked.

Clause G proposes that an Appeal Board shall be set up in each tramway district, and shall consist of ono representative ■ to bo olected by the employers, ono elected by tho cmp'ovcui, and ono person, who shall lie, chairman of tho board, and who shall bo :ij>ppinted by the other two members, or, failing such' appointment. within one month after tlioso other members aro called upon by the Minister to raako the same, by Oho Governor-in-Council. Tho board shall hear ujid determine all appeals by tramway employees. In

any determination of the board on any appeal relating to rales of pay regard shall be had to any award or industrial agreement in force under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1808, relating to tramway employees within the district. The determination of the board shall, in the case of every appeal, be reported to tho Minister, and shall bo binding on'all parties and enforceable in any Court of. competent jurisdiction. The manager of an electric tramway shall cause to bo kept a book in the prescribed form called the "car-report book."

It shall be the duty of every motorman to enter in the said book any report be thinks fit as to any defect in the mechanism or equipment of the car/ , on which he is o.nployed, together with such other particulars of his day's work as may bo prescribed. The Minister is empowered, under Section 10, to direct an inquiry to be held in all cases of accident, and ho; may suspend or cancel drivers' certificates. The power of licensing carriages used oil tramways conferred by tbo principal Act on local authorises shall hereafter not bo exercised by them, but shall bo exercised by the Minister' in accordance with' regulations mc.de under the authoritv of this Act."

Every license granted by any local (.uthority and in force, at the commencement of this Act- shall be deemed to have been granted by the Minister, and shall continue in force until December 31, 1911, unless it expires before that date.