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On the conviction of an industrial union or industrial association for encouraging a strike, &c, J;he Court in its discretion may suspend registration for a period not exceeding two years. Part II of this Act makes further provision for the enforcement of awards and of industrial agreements and provides for the recovery of penalties in the Magistrate's Court only. By Part 111, Conciliation Boards are abolished, and in lieu thereof provision is made for the establishment of Councils of Conciliation. The Governor is authorised to appoint four Conciliation Commissioners, to hold office for three years, subject to re-appointment at the expiration of their terms of office. Parties to a dispute may each nominate as many as three assessors, and a Commissioner and the assessors so nominated and appointed, act as a Council of Conciliation in respect of the dispute for which the Council is established. The function of the Council is to endeavour to promote an amicable settlement of the dispute. Failing such settlement, the dispute is to be referred to the Court of Arbitration. Part IV contains miscellaneous amendments of the principal Act. 240. Public Bodies Leases Act, 1908 : Extending and defining the powers of certain public bodies with respect to the leasing of lands held by such bodies. 241. Public Works Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the principal Act in various particulars, and in addition by virtue of section five, authorising the Governor to grant to any person or body corporate, a license for the utilisation of the water power of New Zealand for electrical purposes. Such license may be in perpetuity, or for any term as the Governor thinks fit, and may reserve to the Crown a power of purchase at any time. 242. Acts Interpretation Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the Acts Interpretation Act, 1908, in various particulars. 243. Fire Brigades Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending in various particulars the Fire Brigades Act, 1908. Section 2 provides that the dissolution of a Fire Board can take place only upon the vote of the ratepayers. Section four gives a Board power to take land under the Public Works Act as a site for a station, &c, section six confers borrowing powers up to £10.000 ; and section seven allows for the testing by an Inspector of the efficiency of fire brigades, and includes the right for such purposes to raise false alarms of fire. 244. Local Authorities Superannuation Act, 1908 : Authorises local authorities to establish superannuation funds for the benefit of their employees. Any local authority may establish a superannuation fund by means of a special resolution, to take effect upon its confirmation by the Governor. The benefits conferred upon contributors are practically identical with those conferred upon contributors to the Public Service Superannuation Fund. 245. Old-age Pensions Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending in various particulars the Old-age Pensions Act, 1908. By section 2 the Registrar becomes the Commissioner, and Deputy Registrars become Registrars. New provisions are made as to the mode of computing the annual income of an applicant for a pension and on the commission of certain offences, the Magistrate is given power to suspend and, in some cases, to cancel the pension certificate of the offender. 246. Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 1908 : Confers the right of appeal against new valuations made for the purposes of the Stamp Duties Act, or the Death Duties Act under section twentynine of the principal Act. 247. Quackery Prevention Act, 1908 : Designed to protect the public from the devastations of medical quacks, by making it an offence, punishable, on a first conviction by a fine of One hundred pounds, and on subsequent conviction by a fine of Two hundred pounds, to take part in any way in the publication of false advertisements for promoting the sale of any medicine, preparation or appliance for the prevention, alleviation or cure of any human ailment or physical defect. 248. Workers' Compensation Act, 1908 : Consolidating and amending the law with respect to compensation to workers for injuries suffered in the course of their employment. The benefits of the Act are extended to all workers engaged in the trade or business of the employer and whose average weekly earnings do not exceed five pounds. The maximum amount of compensation recoverable is increased from four hundred to five hundred pounds. Special provisions are made with respect to accidents inflicting permanent incapacity, happening to workers under twenty-one and the average weekly earnings of any such worker shall be deemed to be not less than two pounds per week. This provision is necessary because the actual loss of wages does not represent the true loss occasioned to the worker. Section eleven extends the benefits of the Act to seamen employed on board New Zealand ships, no matter where the ship may be at the time of the accident. The rule as to common employment is abolished and the Employers' Liability Act repealed. 249. Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1908 : Giving power to new Boards to borrow in anticipation of revenue ; validating a special order by the Taieri Land Drainage Board for raising a loan of £20,000, and authorising the Ellesmere Land Drainage Board to purchase certain existing drainage works. 250. Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1908 : Part I establishes a Teachers' Superannuation Fund in lieu of the fund under Part IX of the Education Act, 1908, and confers upon contributors to the fund so established benefits practically identical with those enjoyed by contributors to the Public Service Superannuation Fund. Part II makes various necessary amendments in the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Act; amongst others, provision is made for the prevention of cases of hardship arising out of only a short break in the continuity of a contributor's service.