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No. 24. New Zealand, No. 200. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 17th December, 1920. I have the honour to transmit to Your Lordship the accompanying synopsis, prepared by the Attorney-General, of the Acts passed during the first session of the twentieth Parliament of New Zealand, together with the Acts duly authenticated with the Public Seal of the Dominion. I have. &c, JELLICOE, Go vernor-General. The Right Hon. Viscount Milner, P.C., G.C.8., &c„ Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Synopsis or Acts passed by the General Assembly op New Zealand during the Session ENDED ON THE lItH Day OF NOVEMBER, 1920. 1920, No. I.—-The Imprest Supply Act, 1920.— This Act applies the sum of £3,032,000 out of the Public Account, and the sum of £31,500 out of other specified accounts, for the financial year ending the 31st March, 1921. A sum of £600,000, being the amount required for the purchase of the interests of the Pacific Phosphates Company in Nauru Island, together with preliminary development expenses, is transferred to a separate account. The sum of £500,000 is transferred to the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account. 1920, No. 2.—The Customs Amendment Act, 1920. —This Act amends section 121 of the Customs Act, 1913, relating to rates of exchange in the case of invoices expressed in foreign currency, by authorizing the Minister of Customs to fix the rate of exchange by reference either to the banking rate of exchange or to the mintage rate of exchange. 1920, No. 3.—The New Zealand Institute Amendment Act, 1920.—This Act provides for an increase from £500 to £1,000 of the Government subsidy to the New Zealand Institute. 1920, No. 4.—The Judicature Amendment Act, 1920. —This Act provides, firstly, superannuation allowances for Judges who, with more than five but less than ten years' service, resign office on account of any permanent infirmity ; and, secondly, increased salaries for Judges, £2,500 per annum being appropriated for the Chief Justice and £2,000 per annum for each of the other Judges of the Supreme Court. 1920, No. 5. —The Magistrates' Court Amendment Act, 1920. —This Act provides increased salaries for Magistrates, and fixes their retiring-age at sixty-five years. 1920, No. 6.—The Imprest Supply Act, 1920 (No. 2).—This Act applies the sum of £2,974,000 out of the Public Account, and the sum of £40,400 out of other specified accounts, for the financial year ending 31st March, 1921. Section 2 of this Act makes provision for increased rates of salaries and wages to be paid to officers employed in the service of the Government ai:d in the Education service. Section 5 provides for the transfer of £500,000 to the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account. 1920, No. 7.—The Registration of Aliens Amendment Act, 1920. —This Act extends the operation of the Registration of Aliens Act, 1917, by requiring registration of aliens who become such by reason of marriage of persons whose naturalization is revoked under the Revocation of Naturalization Act, 1917, and of every alien on his attaining the age of fifteen years. Section 6 requires aliens to notify changes of address. 1920, No. B.—The Revocation of Naturalization Amendment Act, 1920.—This Act provides for the surrender to the Minister of Internal Affairs of letters of naturalization held by a person whose naturalization is or has been revoked under the Revocation of Naturalization Act, 1917. Subsection (3) of section 2 provides that where the instrument of naturalization in New Zealand is the endorsement of any certificate or letters of naturalization issued in the United Kingdom, or in any British possession, the endorsement shall be cancelled and the certificate or letters returned to the person entitled thereto. 1920, No. 9. —The Acts Interpretation Amendment Act, 1920. —This Act amends, for a period of four months from the Ist day of July, 1920, section 24 of the Acts Interpretation Act, 1920, by omitting from paragraph (c) of that section the words " being a responsible Minister of the Crown," after the words " the Executive Council of New Zealand." On the expiration of this Act the omitted words shall be deemed to be restored. The object of the Act (which has now expired) was to enable a member of the Executive Council not holding a portfolio to act, as occasion required, for responsible Ministers. 1920, No. 10. —The Gaming Amendment Act, 1920. —The object of this Act is the suppression of the business of bookmaking, which is declared to be unlawful. Every person making a bet with a bookmaker commits, an offence. Isolated acts of betting between persons none of whom is a bookmaker do not constitute offences. The fact of a person having offered to make a bet issufficient evidence, until the contrary is proved, of that person being a bookmaker. The offence of bookmaking is punishable by a fine of £500 or two years' imprisonment; that of betting with a bookmaker by a fine of £100 or six months' imprisonment.

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