NEW-LAWS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1928, Page 6

NEW-LAWS

SOAIE IAJPORTANT ACTS

JOAI.E INTO FORCE ON TUESDAY

Several important Acts passed durig the long session of Parliament this jar will come into force on Tuesday ext, amofig them being the muohiscussed Mental Defectives Amendment Act and some vital changes in he divorce laws of the Dominion.

During the session fifty-eight public

id general Acts, twenty-three local *ul personal Acts and four private Acts were passed by Parliament, and iaiiy of them came into force immeditely. The Acts which come into orce on January 1, 1929, are mainly hose which embody important new irinciples affecting the general eomnunity and of which ample notice, is lesirable.

Perhaps the most discussed of all he new legislation is the Mental De* fectives Amendment Act, which was massed in a much modified form from that in which it was introduced. AVliile this measure was before the House, there was strong criticism of many of its provisions and file Minister finally agreed to delete several cf the most contentious clauses.

The Act provides for the setting up of a special board, consisting oi the Director-General -of. Alontal Hospitals, the Director-General of Health, the Director of Prisons, a special medical officer on the staff of the Mental Hospitals Department, and two other members, one of whom must be a woman. This board will compile <i register of all the mentally defective people in the Dominion, and will see that they are under proper supervision, will inquire into all cases periodically, and will make provision for the establishment of phycliological clinics. The name of any person may be entered upon the register on the decision of a majority of members of the board, but anyone to whom the decision of the board may relate may object, and the objection may lie de-f cidcd by a Judge of ihe Supreme Court in Chambers.

In the main portion of the Act provision is made for the admission to mental hospitals of persons who are “socially defective—that is, persons who suffer from mental deficiency associated with anti-social conduct, :fnd who, by reason of such mental deficiency and conduct, require supervision for their own protection or in the public interest.” Any person who is competent to apply for a reception order for such person may do sc.

DIVORCE LAAVS.

The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act is a consolidating measure consisting of fifty-eight clauses. Several important changes are made in the law. including the following:— Failure to comply with a decree for restitution o*f conjugal rights is made a ground for judicial separation. The distinction between cases of adultery happening before and casehappening after June 1, 1899,'has beer abolished. <*

The rule of the retention,..,, of her domicile by a deserted wife, notwithstanding that her husband has changed his domicile, is extended to apply to. the case of a wife who has been separated from her husband by agreement or otherwise.

Collusion, except in the case of adultery, has been fixed as only a discretionary bar to relief. •

A new clause provides that a wife mn v apply for divorce if her husband has been guilty of rape or any unnatural crime since the celebration of the marriage.

The Magistrates Courts Act is also a consolidating measure. It consists of 203 clauses, and one of the new provisions is that a summons or other process may be served by registered letter, a signed receipt being taken as evidence of service.

MOTOR INSURANCE

“An Act to require the owners of motor-vehicles to insure against their liability to pay damages on account of deaths or bodily injuries caused by the use of such motor vehicles,” is the full title of the Motor Veil ices Insurance '(Third-Party Risks) 'Act, -which comes into 'force on Tuesday next. The Act provides that every owner of a motor-vehicle on making application for the issue of a license or of registration plates for year commencing on June 1, 1929,' shall pay the insurance premium in respect of that motor vehicle and shall nominate the company with which the contract of insurance is to he made.

The Cinematograph Films Act is divided into several parts, some of which come' into force on Tuesday next, and others on October 1, 1929. The first and second portions,' relating to the censorship and registration of films, becomes law on Tuesday, but the him hire tax, which is based on the gross receipts for a film, does not operate until January 1 of 1930.

OTHER. MEASURES.

The Education Reserves Act, which empowers the Crown to reserve lands for educational purposes, is largely a consolidating Act. 'Bettor provision for the leasing of Crown lands in the Hanmer Town | area is made in the Hanmer Crown j Leases Act. Those who have leases at present are given the opportunity of applying to have them changed.

The law relating to the inspection of machinery is consolidated and brought up to date. The Noxious Weeds Act makes it incumbent upon owners of land to clear' their property of noxious weeds, which are classified in a special schedule. The Orchard alnd (Garden Diseases Acts is a similar measure.

The ( Post and Telegraph Act, Public