STATUTE REVISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26623, 20 November 1947, Page 9

STATUTE REVISION

MANY LAWS AFFECTED BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. Seventy-five clauses which amend 35 different Statutes are contained in the Statutes Amendment Bill which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister of Justice, Mr Mason, said there was nothing contentious in the Bill and that an effort had been made to keep it as brief as possible. The Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Holiday Benefits Safeguarded An amendment to the Annual Holidays Act provides that employment may- be deemed to be continuous if a worker is dismissed and re-employed within one month. An explanatory memorandum states that the purpose of this clause is to prevent evasion by employers of their obligations under the -principal Act by the dismissal and re-engagement of workers, thus depriving them, of the full benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled under the act. Another clause makes the discounting of holiday cards an offence. The value of tools of trade, furniture and household effects which a bankrupt is allowed to select and retain as his own property is increased from £SO to £IOO. Provision is made for the making of regulations governing keeping of bees and the disposal of honey produced in areas where there is a likelihood of the honey being poisoned. Recently a number of persons in one district were admitted to hospital as a result of eating poisoned honey. The poison was traced to honey-dew produced by pas-sion-vine hoppers from the stems and leaves of tlifu. County councils are empowered to contribtue towards the'cost and maintenance of public amenities such as women’s rest rooms or Plunket rooms established in adjoining boroughs. Earthquake-resisting Buildings

County councils are also given authority to make by-laws regulating and controlling the design and construction of buildings in relation to their resistance to earthquake shocks and in any case where a council fails to do this regulations for the same purpose may be made by Order-in-Coun-cil. The Bill provides that in requiring the. consent of parents of a'child to its adoption a court is not called upon to obtain the consent of the natural father in the case of an illegitimate child or of natural parents in the case of a child that has previously been adopted. In the latter case the adopted parents’ consent is. required. There is a clause dealing with the. superannuation allowance of judges who hold office for less than 10 years and retire on attaining the age of 72 years. The Judicature Amendment Act, 1920, provides for superannuation allowance of judges holding office for less than 10 years, but not less than five years, and resigning for ill-health. The clause extends this provision to judges holding office for less than 10 years but not less than five years and retiring on attaining the age of 72 years. Drainage boards and river boards are authorised to provide dwellings for their employees and to raise a loan without taking a poll of ratepayers for the purpose of acquiring land and erecting or purchasing such dwellings. An amendment to the Local Government Commission Act passed last year gives the chairman of a local government commission the title of “ His Honor Mr Justice.” It was slated in the principal Act that the chairman has the same rights and is subject .to the same provisions as a judge of the' Supreme Court as to tenure of office, salary, emoluments and privileges. Authority is given in the Bill for a former judge, of the Supreme Court to be appointed a judge of the Court of Review to which a number of applications are made each year for interpretation and amendments 'of orders made by that court and by mortgage' adjustment commissions. There is at present no judge of the Court of Review.

Safety of Barges

Safety provisions for shipping relating to load lines and other precautions are extended to barges. It is stated that there is a growing practice in certain ports of ships towing barges, lighters and other vessels which have themselves no. independent means of propulsion carrying deadweight cargoes such as sand, shingle and cement. The purpose of the clause is to apply certain safety provisions to such vessels.

The maximum penalty for disturbance of stock by trespassers with dog or firearm is increased from £5 to £SO.