FIVE BILLS PASSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20044, 16 September 1939, Page 3

FIVE BILLS PASSED

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(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

The Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, in a brief statement, on the supplementary estimates in the House of Representatives yesterday said that members must be given time to examine the supplementary estimates and, therefore, they would not be taken until the afternoon. The Attorney-General, the Hon. 11. G. R. Mason," in moving that the Summary Penalties Bill be committed stated that the general principle of the bill was that there should not be automatic imprisonment .in default. of payment of fines; in short, the Government wished to avoid imprisonment because of poverty. The Summary Penalties Bill was committed.

Legitimation Bill

In moving the committal or the Legitimation Bill, Mr. Mason said that its essential purpose was to bring the legitimation law in New Zealand into line with the English Law.

The bill was committed. Mr. Mason, in moving that the Domestic Proceedings Bill be committed, said it dealt with separation proceedings in the Magistrate's Court. The purpose of the bdl was to effect a reconciliation of the parties rather than to have them go on with separation proceedings. There was nc question of pressure or interference with the rights of the parties. . A similar measure had met with lan measure of success In England.

The bill was committed. The Summary Penalties Bill, Legitimation Bill and Domestic Proceedings Bill were finally put through all stages and passed. The Washing-Up Bill and Patents Design and Trade Marks Amendment Bill were introduced by the Gover-nor-General's message. Trade Marks Amendment

Mr. Fraser, in explaining the introduction of the second measure, said the Government had decided at first not tb introduce it because n was a formidable piece of legislationHowever, it had been approached yesterday by those interested in trade marks and patents, inc.tiding the member for Kaipara, the Rt. Horn j. G. Coates, who stated that the lav/, as it at present stood, provided a great handicap. They had asked that the bill be allowed to proceed and the Government had agreed to do this, but if there were any controversy over the measure, the Government would not go on with the bill at present and relief would be provided by means of a clause in the Statutes Amendment Bill. The Municipal Association Bill and

the TaievL River Improvement Amendment Bill were rapidly passed through all stages, making a total 0 r five bills put through m the course of the morning.