Parliamentary.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 September 1901, Page 3

Parliamentary.

(ous PARLIAMENTARY reporter.)

The Evidence Further Amendment Bill,

Wellington, September 10. Introduced by the Premier, provides in section 2 that section five of the Evidence Further Amendment Act, 1895, is repealed, and in lieu thereof it is enacted that in any proceeding in any court or before any justice for the breach of any enactment relating to the duties of customs, stamp duties, the public revenues, the sale of intoxicating liquors, distillation or beer duty, and in any action or other proceeding in any Court brought by or on behalf of, or against the Crown under or in pursuance of the provisions of any snob enactment, the judge or the justices may require any person to be claimed as witnesses. The Charitable Institutions Rating Bill Introduced bjr the Premier, provides that the power given by section 59 of “ The Eating Act, 1894,” to local authorities to remit rent in certain cases may be exercised in the case of any charitable institution (not being an institution within the meaning of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1887), founded for the free maintenance, or relief of orphans or of the aged, infirm, sick or needy, and who is in receipt of assistance by way of subsidy from the public funds. The Second Hand Dealers Bill.

Defines a second hand dealer wihin the meaning of the Act, as every one who carries on business by the purchase, sale or exchange of second band articles, From the first day of January next, second hand dealers must obtain a license for which he may apply to the clerk of the Borough or County within which he intends to carry on business, and his application must be recommended by the chief officer of the police and three resident householders. The license unless sooner cancelled shall continue in force in the district for one year from date of issue, and may be renewed from year to year.

The amount of the license fee is to be 10/-

The name of the licensee with the words “Licensed second hand dealer” must be painted over the door of his shop or place of business. Unlicensed persons are prohibited from acting as second hand dealers.

The licensed dealer must keep a register of articles bought, sold, or exchanged.

Any member of the police force may inspect the license or books. It is declared unlawful for any licensee under the act by himself or any other person to purchase or receive any second hand goods before 8 o’clock in the morning or later than six in the evening, nor any time from any person apparently under the age of 16 years. If any persons fail to comply with the provisions of the Act he is liable to a penalty not exceeding £5, aud in the case of continuing the offence to a farther penalty not exceeding £5 for every day after the first during which such offence continues. The Court may in addition to these penalties cancel the license. Fees and penalties received jrtfcler th e Act are to belong to o r County in which the offenpwis committed The Act is not to Auctioneers or persons who deal J/n second books or manuscripts.

The Discount’s Stamps Bill. Enacts that in order to provide a simple means for granting discounts on cash purchases, the Commisssioner of stamps may issue stamps to be called “discount stamps,” and such stamps shall he sold at their face value at such places and on such conditions as he may appoint, and may be redeemable at their face value on presentation at any money order Post Office, but discount stamps will not be redeemable for any sum presented under one shilling. “No person after the commencement of the Act shall issue to any person any trading stamp, meaning thereby any stamp, coupon over package, document means, or device, which entitled the holder thereof to demand, and receive from any person any money or goods by way of discount on cash purchases, but not including discount stamps issued by the Commissioner of stamps. No person shall give or deliver any money or goods on presentation of any trading stamp issued after the commencement of this Act.

The penalty for contravening these provisions is any sum not exceeding JGIO, The person on whose behalf any scale is made by an agent, assistant, or apprentice, shall be deemed to be the person who effected the sale, and such agent, assistant, or apprentice, shall be liable to the same penalty as the person on whose behalf the sale was made.

The trading stamps abolition and discount Stamps Issue Act, 1900, is repealed, provided that all discount stamps issued and regulations made under that Act, shall be deemed to have been issued and made under this Act.”