THIRTY-FIVE CLAUSES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 3

THIRTY-FIVE CLAUSES

STATUTES AMENDMENT BILL. VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.

Thirty-five clauses dealing with a variety of subjects are contained in the Statutes Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committe©. The period during which action can , be taken against members of the defence forces is extended from three to six months. The date for the next electicns and appointments of members of fire boards is altered from May, 1943, to June, 1944, and subsequent elections and appointments are to take place in the same montli every third year thereafter. The cibject is to brlng fire boards into line with other local bodies whcse members have triennial period of offlce. Friendly societies are empowered to make loans to members on the security of policies. Piovision is made for the appointmen.t cf an Industrial Efficiency Appeal Authority to deal with appeals under the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936. The authority is to have the powers of a commission of inquiry, and will determine appeals from the decisions of the Bureau of Industry. The power of magistrates to^ deal with indictable offences is extended. Any person who commits offences under the Marriage Act, 1908, or makes a false statement under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1924, is liable toi a maximum penalty of two years" imprjsoinment and must be tried on indictment- before a jury. It. is considered that the cases coulcl properly be tried before a- magistrate alone, and magistrat.es are now given nower if thev think it p.y-

pedient so to do with the consent of counsel, to adopt this course. Authority is given for the appointment of representatives of the State Advancss Corporation and the New Zealand Rctumed Services' Association to the Land Settlement Board. The representative of the latter will sit only when matters aifecting the interests of discharged servicemen are under consideration. A modification is made in thc qualifications for admission as a barrister. An explanatory memorandum sta tes that it is desired by the university authcrities and the Law Society to reduce the course of study for thc solicitcrs' examination from five years to three years, but it is considered by those bodies that persoris who qualify under the shorter course should not. be admitted as barristers without further studies. Provision is made fdr representation on the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board of producers engaged in the dairy industry. It is made an offence punishable by a fine for any unqualified person to test the sight of another and then sell spectacles to. that person,. Compensation for the loss of his sight by a. person who had only one eye is to be assessed on a 100 per cent. assessment basis.