H.—22
10
with every motor from the time of its first being placed on the road until its permanent withdrawa therefrom, must be provided in the near future. The question of drafting model motor by-laws has received consideration, but it was found that the existing law does not provide sufficient powers to make satisfactory by-laws, ar.d the matter is being held over for the present. One of the most troublesome motoring nuisances is the use of glaring headlights, and particularly the use of searchlights. It may be pointed out that the use of any dazzling light is a breach of section 2 (4) of the Lights on Vehicles Act, 1915. Copies of all motor by-laws received under section 4 of the Motor Regulation Act are supplied to the Automobile Union in compliance with a request made by that body. (7.) Weights and Measures Act. Pending new legislation weights a,nd measures work must remain in an unsatisfactory state. In the year under review, however, good work was done by the four centre Inspectors in their visits to country districts. Weighbridge. —The fees payable for annual tests of public weighbridges have been the subject of frequent complaints. There is no doubt that the fees, even allowing for the cost of transporting testing-weights, are too high. After consideration of how far the Act would allow any reduction, the following was found to be the only practicable means of giving relief : Inspectors were instructed, to charge only up to the amount of the standard weights used in each test together with their expenses. Standard Weights. —Five tons of 56 lb. weights were made locally to the Department's order, and compare more than favourably with the best imported, weights. They will be distributed among the country Inspectors. Sale of Coal. —The question of controlling the sale of coal by War Regulations in the direction of ensuring that the full weight ordered is duly delivered was considered, and draft regulations prepared. Unforeseen difficulties prevented any definite action being taken. The matter is one that should he made the subject of special legislation. The complaints received from time to time, and the open breaking of the law which requires coal to be sold by weight and not by the bag, are sufficient justification for regulation as stringent as that imposed in England under the Imperial Weights and Measures Acts. (8.) Naturalization arid Nationality. Revocation of Naturalization. —The powers conferred on the Governor-General in Council by the Revocation of Naturalization Act, 1917, were used to deprive thirty-four persons of alien enemy descent of their status as naturalized British subjects, the majority of them being internees. Very careful inquiry was made in every case before taking action. Letters of Naturalization. —The decision of the Government at the beginning of the war that letters of naturalization should not be issued while hostilities lasted was modified in favour of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force of friendly alien descent. Two letters were issued. There are in the Department not less than a thousand memorials for naturalization waiting to be considered when the Government decides to remove the restriction. Nationality of Married Women. —As in previous years, representations have been made as to the nationality of British women marrying aliens. The law that a married woman takes the nationality of her husband is contained in an Imperial measure—the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914 —and cannot be amended by any New Zealand legislation. (9.) Science and Art. Board of Science and Art. —The fourth annual meeting of the Board of Science and Art was held on the 11th March, 1919. A statement of its work during the year is contained in the report of the Director of the Dominion Museum. New Zealand Institute and Scientific Research. —Since 1868 the Institute has been in receipt of an annual grant of £500 to be applied in or towards payment of its general current expenses. The whole of that sum has been""required f for'*some years to meet the expense of printing the annual volume of Transactions. With the increased cost of printing, the Institute represents that it is now unable to carry on without showing a deficit. The question of increasing the annual grant is receiving consideration. The Government has not failed to recognize the importance of the Institute. Last session a sum of £2,250 was appropriated for research. £250 is to be expended in binding books in the Institute library, and the remainder by the Institute on research in connection with such subjects as are approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs, or by the Ministerial Head of any Department specially interested, in a proposed subject for research. The Department is bearing the cost of publication of papers read at the Science Congress at Christchurch. Historical Monuments. —ln the course of the past four years much valuable information respecting historical monuments (including under this term aboriginal rock-paintings, earthwork of Maori pas, Maori or pre-Maori stone fences, battle-sites of the Maori wars, redoubts, blockhouses, and certain buildings erected by the early colonists) has come to the Department, and much of it makes melancholy reading, little attempt at preservation having been made. One famous blockhouse, for instance, has been used as a timber-supply for cow-sheds and pig-sties. In the course of his travels to secure material for the history of the New Zealand wars Mr. Cowan has obtained photographs and informahe has written up, and it is hoped at an early date to publish this as a brochure. It is highly desirable that in the near future legislation on the lines of the Imperial Ancient Monuments
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.