THE STATUTES BOOK FOR 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3010, 29 October 1891, Page 2

THE STATUTES BOOK FOR 1891.

TllK statutes passed last session aro to hand from tho Government printer. We give below short notes on what appear to lie tho enactments of most general interest. THE ADULTERATION TREVEXTIOX ACTS AMENDMENT ACT. Thi3 Act relates to the sale of bread. Bread (with the exceptiou of frencli or fancy rolls or twists) uiust be made into loaves of 1, 2. 1, (i and Blbs respectively. Every person oll'ending against this provisions is liable to a penalty not exceeding £5 or less tliat t"2. Every linker delivering by cart must be provided uith kc>los, and every person purchasing bread may require the same to be weighed Penalty for refusing to weigh broad when required or failing to provido cart with scale* not exceeding t's nor less that £1, Act came into force 19th August last. TIIE AUCTIONEERS' ACT 1891. This Act comes into force on the Ist of November next. It provides for the granting and issue of auctioneers' licenses by local authorities. A dutch auction is made illegal and subject to penalties. As Sections 18 and 11) are of considerable public intorost, we give them in full. 18. Every auctioneer shall within fourteen days after a sale render to tho person on whose behalf such salo shall have taken place a correct account of such sale, and shall, subject to the deductions authorised by section nineteen of this Act, within such poriod of fourteen days pay to such person the balance of the proceeds of such sale received by such auctioneer. If any such aucttoneer shall, after a written demand from such person in that behalf, neglect for seven day's to render such account or to pay such balance to such person he shall bo guilty of an offence under this Act, and shall be liable for every such offence to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds. This section shall not affect any other remedy against or liability of an auctioneer. Provided that moneys received by an auctioneer in respect of sale of real property shall be paid by him into a general or soparate trust account as provided by section nineteen, and it shall not be obligatory upon such auctioneer to pay over the said moneys to the vendor until the sale is completed according to the conditions of sale notwithstanding a written demand has been made to him for such mi.neys. But if any such auctioneer shall neglect for seven day's after completion of such salo to render such account or to pay such moneys to tho vendor, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act, and shall be liable to the penalties in this section herein before provided.

ID. Every auctioneer shall apply the proceeds of sale when realised as follows (a) In or towards payment of the expenses, commission and other charges of or incidental to the sale ; (b) in or towards payment of any money owing to such auctioneer by the person on whose behalf the property was sold ; (c) the balance of such proceeds shall be held by the auctioneer exclusively for such person, to be paid to him or as ha may direct, and until so paid such balance shall be paid into a bank carrying on business under tho authority of an Act of tho General Assembly to a general or separate trust account, and such balance shall not he available for payment of the debts of any other creditor of such auctioneer, nor shall such balance be liable to bo attached or taken in execution under the order or process of any court at the instance of any such creditor. Any auctioneer who knowingly acts contrary to the provisions of this section shall be liable for every such olfeuce to a penalty not exceeding onu hundred pounls. THK BIRDS XUISANCfi ACT. This Act provides that any local authority may apply funds t" the destruction of injurious birds, or levy special rates for tho purpose (provided such birds do not come within operation of any Act relating to protection of animals). Poisoned seed may be laid on roads in counties, Sc., subject to public notice. This act is now in force. THE BOOIC I'UIICIIASERS PROTECTION" ACT. This Act hits at the " Cook Fiend." It provides that every agreement for tho purchase of any printed matter shall bo absolutely void in every case where such printed matter is not to be delivered to tho purchaser at tho date of the agreement in a complete form unless the purchaser signs an agreement in which is stated the total liability of the purchaser in red capital letters, the purchaser to receive a duplicate of the agreement, and tho vendor cannot recover without producing purchaser's receipt for such duplicate. The proof of the value of the printod matter is thrown on the vendor. Act now in force. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES ACT. This Act provides for the imposition of duty on unmanufactured tobacco, entered to be manufactured in tho colony; and also on tobacco manufactured in the colony, whether grown in tho colony or not. The amount of duty payable in each case is set out in the Act. THE EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ACT AMENDMENT. This Act amends the Act of ISS2. It makes further provision for the payment bv employers of compensation to seaman and other workmen receiving bodily injuries while in their employment. Contracts in bar of the benefit of Act to be void. Workmen have no redress for damage caused by negligence. Act now in force. THE FACTORIES ACT. This Act comes into operation on the Ist of next year, and regulates the employment of persons in factories. ■' Factory " or " work-room " means any office, building, or place in which three or more persons are engaged, directly or indirectly, in working for hire or reward in any handicraft or in preparing or manufacturing articles for trade or sale, or any office, building, or place in which steam or other mechanical power is used for the purpose of manufacture. Governor may declare districts and appoint inspectors. Every occupier to givo notico to inspector coilI taining particulars of name and description I of his factory or unrlc-ronin, etc., and the inspector (if satisfied) may issue certificate for registration of same. Inspector has at all times power to enter and inspect. Occupier to keep record of all persons employed, tho ages of those under twenty-one, and of the work of each persou employed. Notice of various matters to bo affixed in a conspicuous part of tho factory, including holidays and working-hours of factory. Inspectors to report to Minister, and an annual report to be laid before Parliament. Provision is also made in case of accident, and the sanitary provisions are of a minute and exhaustive character. The number of hours femalos and mal<;s under a certain age miy bo employed in factories is also specified, and the holidays to which they are entitled provided. Penalties are provided for any infringements of the Act, to be recovered in a statutory manner. MUNICIPAL CORPORATION'S ACT AMENDMENT. Under this Act borough councils may maintain or otherwise aid museums, libraries, etc. Tho Governor, on petition, may declare any outlying portion of borough not being a reserve to be severed therefrom, aud declare the same to be annexed to the adjacent road district or riding of a county. Charitable institutions and schools not conducted for profit exempt from rating. THE PARTNERSHIP ACT. This Act coines into operation on the first ol the new your, and seems to bo a useful measure. Partnership is defined, and rules for determining existence of partnership given. Tho statute specifies in detail the relations of partners to persons dealing with them, and also the relations of partners to ono another. Provision is made for dissolution of partnership and its consequences. PROMOTERS AN'O DIRECTORS LIABILITY' ACT. This Act came into force on the 4th of August last, aud applies to all companies formed or to be formed under "The Conipallies Act, 188:2," "The Mining Companies Act, 1880," or any other Act of tho Geueral Assembly now or hereafter to be in force. Directors aud promoters of companies are made liable for statements in prosnectus, except under certain conditions. Persona inserting the name of another in prospectus aa director, etc., or wilfully making or issuing false certificate reports, etc., are guilty of a misdemeanour. (To be continued),