NEW BILLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5108, 7 August 1877, Page 3

NEW BILLS.

THE CENSUS BILL, 1877.

This Bill, introduced by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, repeals the several Census Acts passed since 1858. It provides that a general census shall be taken in 1878, and again in 1881, of the population, and also of tbe live stock and land in cultivation in the colony. After 1881 the census is to be taken every fifth year, not later than the Ist April. The appointment of enumerators and sub-enumerators is provided for, who are to make out the returns after they have been filled up by the owners and occupiers to whom they; have been delivered, and forward them to the Registrar-General ; and abstracts of them are to be printed and laid before the General Assembly. The penalty for refusal or neglect to fill up the forms is a sum not exceeding ,£2O, but this is not to be enforced against any person who from conscientious scruples shall omit to state the religious denomination or sect to which he belongs, and the proof of such scruple shall be the filling up of the column with the word “ object.” The penalty for failure or neglect of duty by an enumerator or a sub-enumerator is a fine not exceeding £SO for each offence. A false declaration by an enumerator or subenumerator subjects the offender to the penalty of the pains and penalties of perjury. Any enumerator, sub-enumerator, or clerk divulging information is to be liable to a penalty of not less than £2O. Inquiries respecting statistical information may be addressed to persons having charge of certain establishments and industries, and in case of refusal to answer such inquiry, the person so refusing is liable to a penalty not exceeding £2O. These penalties are to be recovered summarily. The Act is not to apply to Maoris. FOREST TREES PLANTING^BTLL. The short title of this Act is the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1877. _ It repeals the previous enactments on the subject of 1871 and 1872. Provision is made for the land board of any district to grant a license to occupy an area of Crown land not exceeding 320 acres to any person who shall be willing to plant it with forest trees, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Governor in Council; and on proof of such regulations having been complied with, the holder will be entitled to a free grant of the land. Any person who plants any freehold land, not less than ten acres in extent, with forest trees, shall be entitled to receive for every acre so planted a land order to an amount not exceeding four pounds, which shall authorise the holder to purchase any of the rural Crown lands in the district. The Governor in Council is to make regulations as to the number and description of trees to be planted, and such regulations are to apply to the whole colony, and may be revoked. No grant or land order is to he issued until it is satisfactorily shown that the land has been planted for two years, that the trees are in a healthy condition, and that the land is securely fenced. Only one grant is to he issued in respect of the same land. Boot crops may be cultivated in plantations. On an application being made for a land order the plantation is to be inspected by the Inspector of Forests, on whose report the Governor may grant the order, which must be exercised within two years, and is to be received as cash. THE LOCAL OPTION BILL. The preamble of this Bill, which is introduced by tbe Hon. Mr, I’ox, states that it is desirable to give more efficient control over the sale of intoxicating liquors to the residents in the neighborhood of the houses where such sale is carried on. It provides that any twenty or more persons, male or female, residing in any licensing district, may, by not’ce in writing, require the Chairman of the Licensing Court to define a sub-district, and take tho votes of the adult _ residents as to tho propriety of bringing in the provisions of "the Act. Every house licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors, or for which a license is applied - for, is to be the centre of the sub-district, and if there shall be more than one such house in proximity to another tho chairman is to fix some intermediate point, which shall be the centre. Every such subdistrict, if within the limits of a municipality, shall include all bona fide inhabitants within a radius of 700 yards ; and if the centre is beyond the limits of a municipality, then tho radius of the sub-district is to be two miles. Voting papers are to be distributed, and each voter is to write “ yes,” or “ no” thereon, or make a mark attested by a witness for or against tbe adoption of the Act. The chairman is to cause the voting papers to be collected, and to declare the result of the voting. The penalty for fabricating or altering voting papers is imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months. _ If the Act is adopted the chairman is to sign a declaration to that effect, and after notification

in the Gazette the Act is to be in force. The declaration is also to be published at least twice in some newspaper circulating in the district. After three years the Jchairmau may again be required to take the votes. After the prohibitory clauses come into operation no license is to be issued for the sale of intoxicating liquors; and any person transgressing the law shall be liable to imprisonment for any term not less than fourteen days nor more than six months. All expenses incurred by the chairman in carrying out the law shall be chargeable and be paid out of the fees payable for publicans’ and other licenses. The penalty for divulging the vote of any individual is a fine of £2O. The voting papers are to be kept for a period of six. months after an election. The Governor in Council may make regulations for the prosecution of inquiries. A vote may be taken against particular licenses. Nothing in the Act is to prohibit the sale of alcoholic liquor by any qualified medical practitioner for medical purposes. - ■