NEW BILLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5811, 13 November 1879, Page 2

NEW BILLS.

The Land Tax Collection Act, introduced by the Hon. Major Atkinson, provides that ** Notwithstanding anything in the Laud Tax Act, 1878, the land tax in and for the year commencing Ist January, 1879, shall be deemed to have beeu payable in one payment on Ist October, 1879, and payment thereof may be enforced accordingly. All proceedings taken and acta done under the said Act for the purpose of collecting or otherwise obtaining payment of the said tax on the day aforesaid, and all other acts, matters, and things done in connection therewith or in relation thereto shall be deemed to have been and to be good and valid in law to all intents and purposes whatsoever, and to have been taken and done in strict accordance with the provisions of the said Act.” The Elective Legislative Council Act, introduced by S.ir George Grey, contains sixteen clauses. The North Island is to be constituted one electoral district, and the Middle and South Islands another ; the Council to be composed of European and Maori members. The former are to he elected by all persons legally qualified to vote for members of the House of Representatives, and the latter by all the Maoris entitled to vote in like manner. The duration of the Council is to be for three years, and the first writs are to be issued on the Ist March, 183 d. Vacancies are to be filled lip iu a similar manner to that in vogue in the Lower Chamber. The Speaker is to be elected from amongst the members. The new Council shall have the same privileges and powers as the present one, and shall prepare its own, standing orders and rules ; but until that is done the present ones shall remain in force. The Council shall be judges, without appeal, as to the validity of the election 1 of its members. No member shall be permitted to sit or vote until he shall have taken the oath of allegiance ; but an affirmation or declaration may be made instead by persons usually exempted. The seat of any member who becomes a bankrupt or defaulter, who shall be convicted of treason or any infamous crime, who shall become the subject of any other Power, or who shall be absent for a whole session without the permission of the Council, shall be forfeited.

The District Courts Proceedings Validation Act, introduced by the Hon. Mr. Whitaker, sets forth that doubts have arisen as to the validity of the proceedings of Districts Courts in Taranaki, Patea, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Collingwood, Waimea, Sounds, Marlborough, Kaikoura, Duller, luangahua, Grey, and Westland ; and it therefore provides that in all boroughs where the District Courts have beeu held the sittings shall be deemed to have been included within the districts in which the Courts were empowered to hold sittings and exercise jurisdiction.