BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1549, 8 June 1882, Page 4

BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT .

$bp^?reyenson ofs. P/ttrqhase, of ( ;Votes Act, 1882 (Sir George Grey).— lt is proposed<4lfal ntfeiector 'shall all arty general election of' 1 members of 'the House of g^topM^e^tatiyesij vote iix ; respect qf morp t tkhasi one* lelectorate.' Also,' that at any. other than a general election iio elector shall, ivbte iniesptfct of any electorate, imleas-.he shall have voted in such elect orate at the lastelection held therein, or unlesSs" he be '&"' resident elector of such electoral district. .The Affirmations and Declarations Act, 1882 (Hon. Mr Whitaker).— lt is profUposed' that a solemn affirmation and may be made in* lieu of oath, and be accepted by every Committee of .ifify? House, of, Representatives, Court, tribunal, or S t authority. Further, ' that };vyhpre a specific for,m of oath has been 1 prescribed by any law < or enactment, the words "sincerely and truly affirm and declare" shall be substituted for the word "swear," and omitting the words. "So help me, Gpd. !>i VYJiere no form of oath has been prescribed, the form of affirma—tion and declaration to be made instead of such oath shall be as follows :— "I do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare —(1). That I conscientiously object to the taking of an oath. (2). That [Here state matter to be affirmed and declared]. . [Signature, when required by law, to be W writing.] Add, if declaration in writt ing } — " Declared before me the day of 188 ." The usual penalties'will remain in force for refusing to . making affirmation and declaration, * and also for making any false statement. .The Evidence Act, 1882 (Mr Hutchin- % "ao'n).— It is provided that an accused pei - son shall be competent hut not compellable to give evidence for or against himself on his own trial, and that husbands and wives shall be competent, but not compellablc, to give evidence against one another. The measure makes more explicit provision than the Evidence Further Amendment Act of 187.">, in so far as being applicable to judicial proceedings in any Court of law. The Industrial School Act, ISB2 (Hon Mr Dick).— The bill makes provision for the establishment, maintenance, and abolition of industrial schools, and the transfer or discharge of the inmates of schools so abolished ; it defines regulations under which a child may be ordered to be taken to and kept at an industrial school, and the vesting of the guardianship of such child in the manager of the school for the time being, and the transfer of guardianship when the Governor may see fit. The cost of the conduct and management of the schools is to be defrayed out of moneys appropriated by Parliament, but parents, if of sufficient anility, will be called upon to contribute to -the support of their children, who are inmates of the schools, and distress on goods may be levied for'non-pay-ment of order made by a Judge or Resident Magistrate. Provision is ni.ide for the licensing out of inmates of tlio schools, and apprenticing to the sea service of lads twelve ycais of a.^e for teinis not exceeding nine yeai '•. Penalties for '•offences committed by inmates arc Cinc- • ted, and also against persons holding unlawful communication with inmates, or not leaving a school building or piecincts when required to do so by the manager. The following existing Acts are proposed to be repealed :— The Neglected and Criminal Children Act, 1867, Amendment Act, 1870, the Neglected Children's Act, 1873, the Neglected and Criminal Children's Act, 1875, the Neglected and Criminal Children Act Amendment Act, 1881, and the ■Naval Training School Act, 1874. ■ The Fire Brigades Act, ISB2 (Mr Lcvestam.) — It is proposed that, after the passing of tins measure, the duty of extinguishing fires in cities and boroughs shall be entrusted to City, Municipal, and Borough Councils, who shall provide and maintain a force of firemen, or enter into agreement with any Volunteer Fire Brigade. That for such purposes rates may be levied not exceeding one pound sterling per annum, and be collected with the general rate. Engines and all other appliances for putting out fires first provided and kept in repair by the local governing bodies, will become the absolute property of such bodies. , Every brigade •will be under the command of a chief lire inspector, hold, 1 ing warrant under the hand of the mayor 6r chairman, such inspector having absolute authority on tlic occasion of a 1 fire to take any measures he may think best for the protection of lifcanclpropeity Damage to property in extinguishing fire is to be deemed within the meaning of any policy of insurance ; persons interfering with any members of a fire bi igade in the performance of his duty w ill be liable to penalty. Piovision is made for the formation of fire police or salvage crops, to carryoutinstructionstobe given by the chief fire inspectoi. It is also provided that all hotels or lodginghouscs of more than two storicsin height shall be provided with iron hddeis on the outer Walls, or other approved means of escape. The Corrupt Pracices Prevention Act, 1881, Amendment Act, 1882 (Hon Major Atkinson). — It is proposed to repeal section 1-7, and to amend section 10 of the Act of ISSI, the amendment being to the following effect : — The section to be read as applyingto persons committing corrupt practices, save that the fine to be imposed on conviction of the commission of an illegal practice shall not exceed £100; and that the incapacities specified in the clauses («) and (b) of subsection 1 of the said section 10 shall only last for three years from the date of conviction of an illegal practice ; and that sub-section ' 1 of the said section 10 shall not apply to illegal practices. It is further provided that the disabilities at present in operation for corrupt practices shall be for such period less than three yean, as the Election /Court, or the Jud£o presiding at the trial 1 of the person convicted shall order. The Pensions Act, 18S2 (Mr Shrimski). — It is proposed that from and after the passing of this measure "no pension, superannuation, or other annual retiring allowance of any kind or character^vhat>rsoever, shall be granted or paid to ,any person retiring from the public service of, this colony, except in accordance with ;the provisions hereof." The provisions; are that no pension or allowance shall be granted without the knowledge of the .General Assembly ; that <an official report of each case wherein it is sought , to ' obtain or grant a pension or allowance shall be placed before .the General Assembly ; that no action shall be' taken in ''the matter refe rred to in such notification - and report until tlieerid of the 'session of the said General Assembly during* which •'such notification 'and report. shall lave been given ; and that no pension or' allowance shall be paid ttntil a ( resolution t approving of the ,grant. has been passed, ib'yjthe House pf Representatives; Jnflie „case pf .any.jierson .npw,, enjoying; allow,ance .»being ; appointed-, fa ,i any * public office, or in any other way , becoming ; ;a' recipient of, money ,fvovf\ ( the cojpnialJ revenue; his allowance shall , cease if^he 1 ' ''aWntfol emoluments of the new' office'dre' equal thereto, but in case they shall' hotbe equal, then no more of such superannuation allowance shall be paid than; mthuhia new. emolument equals that of « ~. Jjjftftpner office. 1 ?- It ir'fur.th,qr/,prpnose& Jsispggl eyery law-,fn,-,fqrce in. $10 PWMy t i pjrQxiBion9, of ithe nijWj \ jnwsure! - ' ,»*£ <Wt I