A.—l

32

Part VI. Stamp Duties. —This Part of the Act makes provision with respect to certain - matters of administration. 1917, No. 10. The River Boards Amendment Act, 1917.—This Act empowers the Minister of Public Works, on the recommendation of a Commission of Inquiry to be set up for the purpose, to undertake river-protection works if the River Board primarily responsible has failed to carry out the necessary works. 1917, No. 11. The Parliamentary Representation (Expeditionary Forces) Adjustment Act, 1947. — This Act is for the purpose of enabling the Representation Commissions, when dividing New Zealand into electoral districts, to take into account the number of men ordinarily resident in any district and absent from New Zealand with the Expeditionary Forces. 4917, No. 12. The Registration of Aliens Act, 1917.—This Act provides for the compilation by the Government Statistician of a register of aliens who may be resident in New Zealand at the passing of the Act, and for the registration of all aliens who may enter New 'Zealand after the passing of the Act. 1917, No, 13. The Imprest Supply Act, 1917 (No. 4).—This Act applies the sum of £4,026,800 out of the Public Account, and the sum of £19,500 out of other specified accounts, for the service of the financial year ending 31st March, 1918. 1917, No. 14. The Military Service Amendment Act, I.9l7.—This Act makes provision for the calling-up from time to time, without ballot, of the residue of the men in any division or class of the Expeditionary Force Reserve if the number of men required for any reinforcement is greater than the number so remaining in any division or class of the Reserve. 4947, No. 45. The Public Trust Office Amendment Act, 1917. —This Act provides for the appointment, in addition to the Public Trustee, of two Assistant Public Trustees. The Public Trustee and his Assistants are together constituted a Public Trust Office Board, and are charged with the administration of the business of the Public Trust Office. The Public Trust Office Board existing at the commencement of the Act is abolished, and in lieu thereof there is established a Public Trust Office Investment Board, which is charged merely with the duty of controlling the investment of moneys available for investment in the Public Trust Office. 1947, No. 16. The War Pensions Amendment Act, 4917.—This Act considerably extends the benefits payable by way of pensions to disabled members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces and to the dependants of deceased and disabled members of those Forces. Section o and the Third Schedule provide for the minimum rate of pension to disabled soldiers in respect of certain specific classes of disablement. Discretionary power is given to the War Pensions Board to increase the rate of pension that would be otherwise payable to a disabled soldier by an amount not exceeding £i a week, so as to enable him to live according to his pre-war standard of comfort, increased pensions may also be granted where a soldier is obliged to undergo medical or curative treatment. By section 14 provision is made for the grant of supplementary pensions to persons who are bona fide residents in New Zealand and are in receipt of Imperial pensions. 1917, No. 17. The Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1917.—This Act extends the provision made by the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, for the settlement of discharged soldiers. Section 2 makes provision for financial assistance to be rendered to men in respect of land held by them otherwise than under the principal Act. Provision is also made for the erection of soldiers' dwellings, and for the acquisition by *W» the Crown, on application by any discharged soldier, of land to be disposed of to that soldier. 1917, No. 18. The War Purposes Loan Act, 1917 (No. 2). —This Act increases by the sum of £4,000,000 the authority conferred on the Minister of Finance by the War Purposes Loan Act, 1917, to borrow moneys for war purposes. 1917, No. 19. The Sale of Liquor Restriction Act, 1917.—This Act provides that on the Ist December, 1917, and thereafter during the continuance of the war, and for six months after the termination of the war, premises licensed for the sale of liquor under the Licensing Act, 1908, shall not remain open for the sale of liquor after 6 p.m. of any day. Provision is made for the consequential adjustment of rent and other charges by reason of the reduction of the hours of sale. By section 7 it is further provided that any licensee of licensed premises may, while the Act remains in force, close his premises without prejudice to his right to obtain a renewal of his license on application in that behalf. The provisions of the Licensing Act as to the sale, supply, and consumption of liquor in licensed premises are extended so as to apply to chartered clubs. By section 10 it is provided that, notwithstanding anything in the provisions of the Act or in the Licensing Act, liquor may be sold and served as part of a meal between the hours of 6 o'clock and 8 o'clock in the evening. Section 11 prohibits the consumption of liquor in restaurants while licensed premises are required to be closed. 1917, No. 20. The Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1917.—This Act restricts the right of an employer to continue to employ any woman or girl in a restaurant after half past 10 o'clock in the evening of any day. _ 1917 No 21 The War Legislation Amendment Act, 1917.—This Act makes various provisions with 'respect to matters arising out of the war. It is divided into Parts, as follows : Part I, Acquisition of Land by Alien Enemies; Part 11, Electoral Rights of Aliens; Part TTT, Contractors' Relief ; Part IV, Restriction on Increase of Rent; Part V, Miscellaneous. Part I is declaratory of the law relating to the acquisition of land by alien enemies, and makes'provision for the procedure by which the rights of the Crown over land unlawfully acquired by aliens rrtay be exercised.