GOVERNMENT BILLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1924, Page 4

GOVERNMENT BILLS.

LOCAL LEGISLATION. WELLINGTON, .July 10 A Hill entitled the Local Legisaltion Act, of which the Hun Ik I'. Bollard has charge, provides a method by which ratepayers and all the other persons interested may have full prior information both as to the purpose of the prdposed minor local legislation niul as to tiie actual legislative method by which effect is given to such proposals. Under the Hill a local authority desiring specific empowering legislation on its behalf is required to submit its proposals in concrete form to the Minister of Internal Affairs for consideration by tile Government. If the Minister is satisfied that the proposal is one which should properly he submitted to Parliament he publishes in the Gazette notice to that effect, together with a copy of the clause, thus enabling till persons locally interested in the proposed legislation tn liecomt! acquainted with the proposals for a sufficient time before Parliament deals with the subject, and also enabling objectors to present any objections for consideration hy the committee of Parliament. A further üb-' joct is to enable members of Parliament and ally special committee appointed by either House to deal with local legislation to have expert details of the proposed legislation in their hands. Due provision is thus made for full consideration hy departments of the Government and for full notice to the public before Parliament is called upon to consider the advisability or otherwise of passing lhe legislation.

LOCAL LOANS INTEREST. An amendment of the Local Bodies l.oans Ad, introduced hy the Prime .Minister, seeks to provide a method under which former restrictions oil the rate of interest may he varied with the authority of the Minister ol I'iunneo. This authority, first given in Section II of the Eiuance Act, 10— 1. is declared to apply to all loans since the passing of that Act or to loans raised lor conversion purposes. Similarly limitations imposed nil interest ul local body conversion debentures may lira lied while in ihe case of ordinary debentures the rate of interest nitty he extended I'roin lour and a half to five per ei'iiL

COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT. The Copyright Ad Amendment Hill, which is in cluirge of the I lon C. J. Parr, extends the provisions of the Copyright Ad, If)IH, to British protectorates, the Imperial authorities having drawn attention to this having been omitted from the original Act. The Hill also includes territories under niaiulaie to his Majesty. POLICE DISCIPLINE.

Aii amendment of thu Police Force Act, introduced hy the lion C. J. Parr, Minister of Justice, provides principally for dealing with broaches of discipline. It gives power to make regulations proscribing fines and other penalties lor breaches ol Ihe regulations. mid sets out. the method of inquiry into such breaches. In the case of superintendents, inspectors or subspoetnrs, the Inquiry Hoard shall consist of two members appointed by lllf Minister, one of whom shall be a luomhor of the Police Force. They will report to the Minister, and I lie penally may include di-missal or reduction, or a line not exceeding L'-lh Inquiries where the charge concerns a scr geaui uiiiv he made by a superintendent or inspector, and the maximum ling i- to be L'-'i. A charge against any constable inav l,e investigated by a superintendent of inspector, and iho maximum line i- Lxt. Persons may ho examined on oath, ami lals.e eviil"iie : .’ may he punishable under the ( rimes Act. Suporanuiiatioi rights ol members of the force who joined the NewZealand Expeditionary Force and have been reappointed to the service within two years and three mouths of their tit, charge from the Army are revised •o long a. payments aie mad; within •> 'em ol the pas-ing of this Act. Provision i- made for payment ot superannuation arrears hy instillments extending over three years. The provision of the law under which a magistrate may determine the title to goods I illicit pos-ession of hy thu police other than pursuant to warrant, is extended to cover all goods, wares or merchandise of any description, and to include hor.-es. live stock and other animals and all eonvoyancc- and other means of transport.

; sai.k ok Koof):-; and di?res. The' Sale of Komi and Drugs Acl I Amendment liill, which is in c-haigc ol l In* Minister ol Health, proposes semi important alterations to tin* existing law. It i- proposed to extend tin eleliiiition of "efrug” to include soaps, dusting powders and unguents used bs man, as well a> disinfectants, germicide'-. anti.-eplic- and preservatives. ' There is also extension ol the term "sale" so as to include any food j supplied for consumption in any shop, hotel, restaurant or eating house, or .at au.v stall or other place. Ati\ such food shall be deemed to have been I sold or offered lor sale. Additional powers are proposed lor oHiccrs to take samples of loud or drugs lor examination or analysis. but unless tbe existing procedure is followed b.v cn'lic-er- in securing liic-e sample* no Conn priiccoiniigs may follow. Another clause makes it an oflencc to advertise in any way any statement, design or device calculated to deceive the purchaser in regard to the properties of any food or drug. An amendment also proposes to exempt from Kxei.-e or Customs duty loud containing three parts of pronl spirits pel cent, the existing law limiting exemption to two pans of proof spirit per cent. There are other machinery clauses making for greater facility in applving the Act. IXSCRAXCK HAW. The Instirauee Companies Deposits Ac t Amendment Hill, brought down by Mr Massey, extends the definition lit thc term “company" to mean any "person or association of persons, whether corporate or otherwise.” 'I he principal provision in the Hill is a clause excepting from the term "insurance business" insurance ngains'j earthquake or insurance against fire consequent on earthquake.