NEW BILLS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 887, 5 August 1910, Page 6

NEW BILLS.

' DESTITUTE PERSONS. •The Destitute Persons Bill, introduced by Dr. Findlay'.in the .Council yesterday, repeals,, and re-enacts .with numerous alterations, the Destitute Persons Act, 1908, which: is itself a consolidation of the Destitute Persons Act, 1691, and its amendments.. ' Most; of 'the. alterations made by the BUI relate to the details of judicial procedure, but' attention is called in the law draughtsman's ; memorandumto the following amendments in matters of substance:— An amended definition of "near relative," with special .reference, to the effect' of adoption and to illegitimate relationships. .. Power to order payment on account of past maintenance, as well as maintenance for the' future. . •; ''.'Amended definition -of "parent" with reference to the liability of parents for deserting children or leaving, them without maintenance. '. Better provisions as to attachment of wages in satisfaction- of' maintenance orders. Tho present law is unworkable. Provision is also made'for the making of charging orders for'securing the payment of moneys 'due' under a maintenance order, and also for the appointment of the' Public Trustee/or other person to receive income arising from, the property charged in - case of default of payment. ; of moneys due under the maintenance order. .-.'.- ■'~-. ; .' ■ Amended provisions as to recovery from relatives of the cost of the maintenance of persons in public or charitable institutions.- .'.-;. Further provisions making it .an indictable offence to desert a wife or child by leaving New Zealand. Provisions'for giving effect in New Zealand to affiliation and ...maintenance orders made in Australia. .' Repeal; of Part . II ; ,of.. the. Married Women's Property Act; 1908' (which reenacts the Married Women's Property Protection Act, : 1880),' as being obsolete, except for tho purposes of the Licensing Act. ....... ...•■■'-. Eepeal of Part VI of the Divorce and Matrimonial.Causes Abt, 1908 (which reenacts the Married Persons ' Summary Separation Act, 1890). This Act overlaps the Destitute Persons Act,in an embarrassing maimer, and all necessary ■ provisions for the, maintenance and summary separation, .of husbands and wives are now'included in this Bill and governed by the same procedure. The provision for attachment of wages sets forth that after the issue .of' a mainfcsuance order, an attachment order may be made against the subject's employer, declaring that the moneys due for maintenance shall be a charge on wages. Such moneys shall .he..deducted by the employer and paid, to the Clerk of the Court or sorao other constituted person; OATHS BILL. The Oaths Bill, introduced in the Council by Dr. Findlay yesterday, has for its object, according to the. law draughtsman's memorandum, the abolition of the insanitary, practice of "kissing tho Book" on the taking of an.oath.'This practice is of comparatively recent origin, and seems to havo com'ti'into.common use during the eighteenth century. , hi earlier times it was customary for tho person taking tho oath to "touch with his hand some part of the Holy Scripture." "Kissing the Book" has already been abolished in England by tho' Oaths.Act, 1909. The Bill, provides that, an oath may bo administered awl taken in any of the manners following :— (a) The person taking the oath • may, while holding in his hajid a copy of tlio Bible, New Testament, or Old Testament, repeat the words of tho oath as prescribed or allowed by law; or (b). The officer administering tho oath may Tepcat tho appropriate form of adjuration commencing with the words: "You-swear by Almighty God that," or words to the like effect, and concluding with the words of the oath as prescribed or allowed by law, and tho person taking tlic oath shall thereupon, while holding in his hand a copy of the Bible, New Testament,, or Old Testament, indicate his assent to tho oath so administered by uttering tho words "I do," or other words to the like, effect. This will ho the ordinary form of tnkifig .the path'in future; or (c) Tho oath may bo .administered and taken in any manner which would havo been lawful if this Act had not been passed.