A.—l

19

By section 24 the Board is empowered to publish any information obtained by it in the course of any judicial inquiry or investigation, and also to publish any report, findings, recommendations, or comments made by the Board with respect thereto. By section 26 the Governor-General in Council is empowered to make regulations — (1.) For the prevention or suppression of methods of competition, trading, or business which are considered unfair or prejudicial to the industries of New Zealand or to the public welfare; (2.) For the prevention or suppression of monopolies and unfair combinations; (3.) For the establishment of fixed, or maximum, or minimum prices or rates for any classes of goods or services ; (4.) For the prohibition, regulation, or control of differential prices or rates for goods or services, or for the differential treatment of different persons or classes of persons; and (5.) For the regulation and control of industries in any other manner deemed necessary for the maintenance and prosperity of those industries and the economic welfare of New Zealand. Every person who commits an offence against a Board of Trade regulation is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £200 or to imprisonment for a term of three months. Every such person is also liable (as an alternative penalty) to a penalty of £1,000 to be recoverable as a civil debt due to His Majesty. By section 32 special provisions are made with a view to prevent profiteering. By that section it is declared an offence for any person, either as principal or agent, to sell or supply or to offer for sale or supply any goods at a price which is unreasonably high. Every person who commits such an offence is liable to a fine not exceeding £200 or to three months' imprisonment in the case of an individual, or to a fine not exceeding £1,000 in the case of a body corporate. By section 33 an employer or principal is declared, in relation to the commission of offences against the Act or against any Board of Trade regulation, to be responsible for the acts and omissions of his servant or agent in the same manner and to the same extent as in cases of civil injury. 1919, No. 16.—The Women's Parliamentary Rights Act, 1919. —This Act confers on women the right to be elected and to sit and vote as members of the House of Representatives. 1919, No. 17.—The Public Authorities (Party Wall) Empowering Act, 1919.—The object of this Act is to enable public authorities which have no power to part with the freehold (or, as in the case of the Grown, only a limited power by statute) to enter into party-wall agreements, or to confirm such agreements made by their tenants, so as to bind the freehold, with respect to the party wall, in the hands of future tenants, and also to bind the public authority by the terms of the party-wall agreement. 1919, No. 18.—The Official Appointments and Documents Act, 1919.-—This Act makes provision with respect to the exercise of certain powers by or on behalf of the Governor-General or the Governor-General in Council. The object of the Act is to relieve the Governor-General from the necessity of personally signing instruments of appointment and other documents of minor importance. 1919, No. 19.—The Police Offences Amendment Act, 1919.—This Act creates several offences punishable on summary conviction. Section 2 makes it an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding £100, to incite, encourage, or procure disorder, violence, or lawlessness. Section 3 relates to the unlawful taking and use of motor-cars and other vehicles where such taking docs not amount to theft. Section 4 makes it an offence for any person to issue a document falsely purporting to be an official document. Section 7 relates to the wearing of military decorations and badges by persons not lawfully entitled to wear the same. 1919, No. 20. —The Treaties of Peace Act, 1919.—Section 2 of this Act empowers the GovernorGeneral by Order in Council to make all such provisions as may be necessary for giving full effect to any of the provisions of the Treaty of Peace with Germany, or any other Treaty of Peace made by His Majesty with any enemy Power which is or has been in alliance with Germany. Section 3 approves and confirms the acceptance by His Majesty, in right of his Dominion of New Zealand, of the mandate for the government of the Islands of Western Samoa. . Section 5 authorizes the Governor-General in Council to make such provisions as may be necessary for the due and effective exercise of any jurisdiction or authority conferred upon the Executive Government of New Zealand for the government of the Islands of Western Samoa. " The Act remains in force for twelve months and no longer. 1919, No. 21.—The External Affairs Act, 1919.—This Act enables the Governor-General to appoint a member of the Executive Council to hold office as the Minister of External Affairs. It also provides for the appointment of a Secretary for External Affairs and of such other officers as may be necessary. The administration of the Cook Islands is transferred to the Minister of External Affairs, who is also charged with the administration of any territory out of New Zealand which may at any time be a dependency of New Zealand or otherwise be under the jurisdiction of the Government or Parliament of New Zealand. 1919, No. 22.—The Native Townships Act, 1919.—This Act makes provision for the disposal, by way of sale, lease, or otherwise in accordance with regulations, of any lands that may be acquired by the Crown in any Native township. 1919, No. 23.—The State Forests Amendment Act, 1919.—This Act empowers the Governor-General in Council to set apart any area of national-endowment land as a provisional State forest, and provides that the revenue from any such land shall be apportioned between the State Forest Account and the National Endowment Account. 1919, No. 24.—The Chattels Transfer Amendment Act, 1919.—This Act makes various amendments of an unimportant character in the Chattels Transfer Act, 1908. 1919, No. 25.—The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Amendment Act, 1919 —This Act removes certain restrictions upon the construction of tramways in the vicinity of the City of Wellington. » '