LAST SESSION’S ACTS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1927, Page 2

LAST SESSION’S ACTS

IMPORTANT MEASURES. TO OPERATE FROM NEW YEAR’S DAY. WELLINGTON, Dec. 29. The Statute Book of 1927, the product of a session constituting a record in the number of sitting days, promises to eclipse in bulk that of 1926, which was of record size. The number ot public measures passed was 101, ten more than in the previous session. Consolidations were hardly as numerous or as voluminous as in 1926, hut as a set-off against this the revision of the tariff involved the inclusion in the Customs Amendment Act of lengthy schedules. Though tbe session ended only three 'weeks ago, good progress lias been made in preparations for the issue of the new volume of statutes, which will probably bo available to the legal profession and others who make general use ot it towards the end of January. Alost of the amending measures passed in the course of the session came 9 into operation immediately, hut a number of new Acts are to have effect as from January 1. As some of these impose new obligations upon various sections of the community, it is as well that notice should be taken of them by those concerned. , Perhaps the most important measure which is to operate as from New Year’s Day is the Rural Intermediate Credit Act. The necessary machinery to facilitate the issue of short-term financial assistance to primary producers, tlio object of the Act, has already been provided by the gazetting of regulations, and preliminary steps for the setting-up of a board are in hand. District boards are to be appointed subsequently by the Rural Intermediate Credit Board.

Chemists and others are directly affected by the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which regulates the importation and exportation, manutaeture, sale, use and possession of certain dangerous drugs. The main object of the Act is to bring the New Zealand law into conformity with modern ideas for the control of drugs which, if used excessively, have the effect of mental and physical demoralisation, and most of the sections are in compliance with the articles of the League of Nations Convention, 1921. Opium smoking is directly aimed at. The Orchard Tax Act is devised to raise moneys by means of special taxation of those concerned for the development of the fruit industry and to protect orchards from fireblight. This legislation has been specially asked for by fruit-growers. Another important measure which is dated to operate from January 1 is the Legislature Amendment Act, but \ its effect will not be felt until the general election towards the end of next year. One of the principal provisions relates to the setting-up of a permanent commission to determine alterations in the boundaries of electorates. There are also provisions inregard to voters’ rights, return or writs, etc. Amendments made to tbe Bankruptcy Act were tbe first for thi five years, during which period the Act remained on tbe Statute Book without any alteration whatever. The amendments now made are’■chiefly on the lines of the English Act. One section prohibits publication of reports of the examination of a bankrupt. Another reduces from six months to three months preferential claims of a landlord for rent, and places claims for wages ahetid of the landlod’s claim for rent. One of the most important A sections affords protection to persons*. who have lent money to dairy farmers on the security of milk cheques. Under the final section..provision is made for the publication* annually of a list of undischarged bankrupts. In addition to being a consolidation measures, tbe Apiaries Act gives inspectors increased powers in respect to control of foul brood and other diseases, and provides for condemnation of honey which, from any cause, is unfit for human consumption. The Public Services Superannuation Act. tbe Police Offences Act and tbe Electoral Act. which also bear the date January 1, are consolidating measures embodying no actual changes in the law.