A—l

22

Section 45 provides (a) for the regulation or restriction of the investment of moneys beyond New Zealand, and (b) for regulating the rates of interest that may be charged or received in respect of the investment of moneys in New Zealand. Section 46 provides that, except in the case of banks now carrying on the business of banking in New Zealand, no bank shall carry on such business except under the authority of an Act of Parliament or of an Order made by the Governor in Council. Part V (Aid to Public Works and other Public Purposes) : Section 49 provides for a loan of £1,000,000 in aid of certain public works. Section 50 provides for a lo,an of £50,000 for the purpose of afforestation. Section 51 extends the borrowing-powers of the Government for the purpose of State coal-mines from £150,000 to £250,000. Part VI (Stamp Duty) : Section 52 exempts from stamp duty powers of attorney executed by members of the Expeditionary Force. Section 59 exempts from duty conveyances or transfers of property to the trustees of war funds. The other provisions of this Part of the Act are of minor importance only. Part VII (Public Trust Office): Section 61 provides for the payment to the credit of estates in the course of administration by the Public Trust Office of a proportion of the profits made by that office in connection with the administration of estates. Part VIII (Post Office Savings-bank Deposits) : Sections 58 and 59 make special provisions for the temporary investment in the Post Office Savings-bank of moneys belonging to war funds, and not, immediately required. Part IX (Social Insurance) : The object of this Part of the Act is to assist, friendly societies l.iv extending to members of their societies certain of the benefits provided for by the National Provident Fund Act, 1910. Sections 67 to 71 provide for the payment of benefits to the members of such societies in respect of the birth of children. Sections 72 to 75 enable friendly societies, by contributions to the National Provident Fund on behalf of their members, to secure for their members pension benefits under the National Provident Fund Act. All payments made to the fund by or on behalf of members of friendly societies under these provisions are supplemented to the extent of 50 per centum thereof by way of subsidy out of the Consolidated Fund. The other provisions of the Act relate principally to matters of administration, and are of little general importance. 1916, No. 8. The Military Service Act, 1916.—This Act makes provision for the compulsory enrolment of Expeditionary Forces for service beyond New Zealand during the present war. For this purpose there is established a Reserve called " The Expeditionary Force Reserve." The Reserve consists of every male natural-born British subject who is for the time being of military age, and who is at the passing of the Act or subsequently becomes resident in New Zealand, with the following exceptions : — («.) Members of an Expeditionary Force raised under the Expeditionary Forces Act, 1915: (b.) Men discharged in consequence of disablement or ill health from the Expeditionary Force, or from any other portion of His Majesty's Forces, after service beyond the seas in connection with the present war : (c.) Men undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for a term not less than one year or in confinement as of unsound mind : (d.) Natives within the meaning of the Native Land Act, 1909. The Reserve is divided into two divisions, known respectively as the First Division and the Second Division thereof. The First Division consists of — (a.) Unmarried men : (b.) Married men whose marriage took place subsequent to the Ist day of May, 1915 (except such as have a child under sixteen years of age by a previous marriage) : (c.) Widowers with no children under sixteen years of age : (d.) Men whose marriages have been dissolved, and have no children under sixteen years of age. The Second Division consists of all other Reservists. Provision is made for the classification of either or both divisions of the Reserve into such classes as the Governor in Council thinks fit, and for the enrolment, of the Reserve and the preparation of a register or of registers by the Government Statistician. It is provided by section 8 that at any time during the present, war with Germany, after the Governor has directed the enrolment- of either division of the Reserve or of any class or classes thereof, the Minister of Defence may by warrant signed bv him authorize the Commandant of the Defence Forces to call up from such division, class or classes, for service with the Expeditionary Force, such number of men as the Minister thinks necessary. In pursuance of any such warrant the Commandant is required to cause the number of men specified in the warrant to be selected by lot from the men whose names appear in the register of the division, class, or classes to which the warrant relates. The names of the men so selected (together with their abodes and occupations so far as known) are thereupon to be published in the Gazette by the Minister of Defence. The notice so published is to be regarded for all purposes as affording conclusive proof that the men named therein have been lawfully called up for service with the Expeditionary Force, Every man so called up for service'is, on the day following the gazetting of the notice, deemed to be transferred from the Reserve to the Expeditionary Force, and may be required at any time thereafter to report to the military authorities at such time and place as may be specified by further notice in the Gazette.