NEW LAWS IN FORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 109, 16 January 1912, Page 3

NEW LAWS IN FORCE.

LAST SESSION'S STATUTES. } THE PUBLIC ACTS EXPLAINED. Forty-three public Acts were passed by Piirliaineut last session. They were principally measures amending the existing statutes. The majority of them commenced from the date of their passing, and with the exception of one which is reserved for Royal assent, they will come . into operation during this year. The statutes of 1911 have now been printed and published. COMPENSATION TO INJURED WORKERS. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act of last session will come into operation on March 1. It includes provisions for Dominion awards for all unions in New Zealand that are engaged in the same industry. On the same date, the Workers' Compensation Amendment Act will come into force. Under this Act an injured worker will be entitled to a reasonable allowance, not exceeding £l, for medical or surgical attendance, including first aid. In those cases where the average weekly earnings upon which compensation is calculated exceed £5, account may, in the discretion of the Arbitration Court, be taken of any periods during which the worker has 'been unable to work because of the intermittent nature of the employment, if it were impracticable that the worker should be employed at other remunerative work. When a worker has been promoted within 12 months preceding the accident, and his wages have been increased, the Court is to take as his average weekly earnings the amount, earned weekly since the date of promo-, tion. Another clause extends ihe operaj tion of the principal Act to accidents occurring within the outer boundary of the I territorial waters. Under the principal Act compensationis not payable if the accident is due to the serious and wilful misconduct of the worker. It is now provided that this exemption shall not apply if the accident in death or permanent disableI ment. An eye, hand or foot is deemed j to be lost if. it is rendered wholly and [permanently useless. This provision is to be extended to all parts of the body scheduled under the principal Act. • RELIEF OF MINERS. The Mining Amendment Act authorised the utilisation of the gdldminers' relief fund for the relief of miners iricapaci-" , tated by pneumonocoriiosis or for the relief of the family of any miner who dies from the disease. This measure is retrospective, and applies to any person employed in or about a gold mine, and,includes persons employed in batteries, .f OLD AGE AND WIDOWS' PENSIONS. The law relating to the property qualification of applicants foj old age pensions was amended last session. A-pro-vision was included removing from the definition of income money received on the sale or exchange of land or property, any money received under an> insurance policy on the destruction by* fire of a building or other property. This amendment was designed to meet cases- of hardship which were brought uhde"r the notice of Parliament by. members during the session. The right 7to receive pensions has been extended to persons who have two or more children" under the age of 14 years dependent;' on' them, and are themselves 60 years*"of age in the case of males, and 55 years.'.old'in.the case of females. The sclieme of pensions for widows came into operation on January 1. Pensions' will be., paid by i monthly instalments to every widow ,at ■ i the rate of £l2 per annum if'sjie has one child, £lB if she: has ,two children, '. £24 if she has three children, and £3O if she has more than three children. ! • THE LAW ON TRAMWAYS. . . I Numerous amendments' werft made in the Tramways Act. They ! vision for the payment>of- <&■ jjeenae fee ! of £2 upon every tramcar"-of-a- system conducted under a dwd The fees arc-to be collected by* fee Miii-*' ister of Fin&nce.and paid by : hint'to the -" local bodies hy -whom- 1 the deregatßm' :i ha-s ! .been given. nVheri a lottd' bodies have delegated-' tketr 4ttthori<sy?las is the case in Auckland, to be allocated a^dngpt, L t^e» w ,' Under ■ the Act new tramcafs, qt, ; wlflß&;yierc.Qn-, struction is'commenced a#er im&myil,' must be built 'with'ail iStisle way throughout the pQsstJon..a£.'She ; 'car. riage set apart for padsengeifer-'i t ffhis is the modification ofthe claus*pf«po"Bed by Mr. T. H. Davey, church East, ' versy during the. session.':*'•' s> imf*.■:-'"' FRIENDLY ' Legislation affecting ihe rEegistiation of friendly societies,' or branches, was enacted lastsessiojn M ncteesteitates. an actuarial certiflcationtdf i thei'ifaftes of contributions for siekgoessv-'death; su . perannuation, and 'aroiuity.wbemjfit3 before registration' is grantofl t'oa-gbcieties','' or branches, which make applicutidn r af-' ter January 1. The re£istrW '-given discretionary power tO'exeWpt'lin-f'so.-. . ciety to which lie considers;■t«islifjiqu'irement is applicable.- The ".provides that when a friendly' society, invests 'its funds on .niortgagS or' oilier security in land the amount 'inrveked' must not exceed of the security/ thVaaw'''pi-eWouslv' al- ( • lowed investment to the extent of three-',.. fifths of the unimproved -Value •qf-'itne' land, and one-half of .the Vrrfiie of the improvements. , '. ■. \----m:i ::■■■■ RATING ON UNIMPROVED, VALUES. The Rating Act of l!) 08 'from, the application of the system""of'.rating on unimproved values wktey, gas, electric light, sewage and' hospital iiu'd charitable aid rates. An Act is' now "in .operation providing that where the system is in force a poll shall, pi\ the', petition : of 15 per cent, of ' the,. "ra Icpayers, be taken on the proposal that UiJ.,systemshall apply to these rates.lml.that" when. ■ the system is adopted, i'fi'a distinct it. shall apply to the specified rates., - ..-'. "- TEACHERS' RIGHT OF,APPEAL. -.

The right of appeal ,nga,iiist transferr was granted to school .tm'chers by'the' Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment; Ac.t;' This imeasure came into operation -in October. Fourteen days' notice.qf 'tis )intention to transfer a teacher ; iuust- be given' l)j' Ihe Education Board to him. ' OTHER NEW LAWS. '

Exemption from duty is conceded by the Death Duties Amendment Act, air ready in operation, to- which gifts do not exceed £IOOO. By the same Act successions not exceeding £2OO in value arc exempted from duty. The Mental Defectives Act, which consolidated and amended the existing law relating to the care and control of mentally defective persons, will come into operation on March 1. The law relating to patents and the registration of designs and trade marks has 'been revised and consolidated. The I new Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Act will come into operation on July 1. The Legislature Act and the Local Elections and Polls Act were amended to provide that every voter preseali in a. booth upon iln- close of a poll is enI titled to receive a votimr paper. This improvement on the existing regulations [ of polls was in operation ;\i the general ' elections. I ====== ■ ,