11

A.—l

221. Wellington and Manawatu Railway Purchase Act, 1908 : Making provision for carrying into effect the purchase by the Crown of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway. This Act vests in the Crown as from the seventh of December, 1908, the said railway, and certain land and other property, such as rolling-stock, machinery, &c, connected with the railway and described in the Schedule to the Act. The sum of Nine hundred thousand pounds together with the price of all railway stores held by the company as on the sixth of December, constitutes the purchase money of the said railway. The Act makes definite provisions as to the mode of payment, &c, and provides that the servants of the Company may be appointed as permanent officers of the Government Railways Department. 222. Imprest Supply Act, 1908 (No. 4) : Granting to His Majesty for the service of the year ending 31st March, 1909, the sums of Seven hundred and eight thousand pounds ; Ninety thousand pounds ; and One hundred thousand pounds. 223. Impounding Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the principal Act by providing that cattle seized under section 17 thereof shall be delivered up to the owner or other person on his behalf, upon payment of expenses and driving charges, before they have been actually impounded. 224. Inspection of Machinery Amendment Act, 1908 : Making miscellaneous amendments to the principal Act. 225. Naval Subsidy Act, 1908 : Increasing the annual subsidy payable by New Zealand in respect of the maintenance of the Royal Navy from £40000 to £100000. The arrangement so made is to continue in force for ten years from the twelfth day of May, 1909. 226. Second Ballot Act, 1908 : Amending the law relating to the representation of the people in Parliament, by providing that, if at an election no candidate receives an absolute majority of the valid votes recorded, then a ballot shall be taken between the two candidates who received the highest and next highest number of votes respectively ; and that the candidate received most valid votes at the second election shall be deemed to be duly elected. 227. The Harbours Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the Harbours Act in various particulars ; section four makes new provisions as to the issue of pilotage rates exemption certificates. Section 6 makes provision as to the control of harbours on days when regattas or boat races are being held thereon. 228. Justices of the Peace Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the provisions of the principal Act. Section 2 provides that informations or complaints and affidavits as to the service of any summons, &c, authorised by the principal Act, may be taken or received by a Justice, by the Clerk of a Magistrate's Court or by his deputy. Section 3 makes further provision as to the procedure in declaring a person to be a habitual offender. 229. Government Advances to Settlers Amendment Act, 1908 : Making miscellaneous amendments of the principal Act. Section 3 authorises the raising of a total amount of Six million pounds instead of Five million pounds for the purposes of the principal Act. Section 4 authorises an annual loan of £500.000 instead of £200.000 for the purpose of advances to workers. Sections 5 and 6 make provisions authorising lessees under the Land for Settlements Act and the Land Act to mortgage their leases to the Government Advances to Settlers Office Superintendent. 230. Immigration Restriction Amendment Act, 1908 : Providing that the principal Act so far as it relates to a reading test for Chinese Immigrants shall not apply to Chinese returning to New Zealand within four years after leaving if name and thumb print registered ; or to Chinese returning prior to the first day of January, 1909. 231. Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Act, 1908 : The first part of this Act make provision for the raising of loans by local authorities from the public instead of from the Government. Such loans shall be guaranteed by the Government, if approved by the Governor by Order in Council. The total amount so guaranteed by the Government in any one year shall not exceed £500.000 The second part makes various amendments of the principal Act. 232. Counties Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending in various particulars the Counties Act, 1908. 233. Infants Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the Infants Act, 1908, in various particulars. 234. Defence Amendment Act, 1908 : Amending the Defence Act, 1908, in various particulars. 235. Education Reserves Leases Validation Act, 1908 : Validating certain leases granted by the Otago School Commissioners ; and authorising the Wellington School Commissioners to borrow £6000 to discharge certain existing liabilities. 236. Monopoly Prevention Amendment Act, 1908 : Extending the operation of the provisions of the Monopoly Prevention Act, 1908, in so far as they affect the manufacture, importation and sale of agricultural implements, to 31st December, 1910. 237. Railways Authorisation Act, 1908 : Authorising an extension of about twelve miles of the Midland Railway. 238. Education Amendment Act, 1908 : Providing a new scheme for the classification of public schools, and of the salaries of teachers employed therein ; also defining the respective powers and duties of Boards of School Committees in connection with the appointment and transfer of teachers ; and amending the principal Act in various other particulars. 239. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1908 : This Act is designed to remedy defects found to exist in the principal Act. Sections 3 and 4 define the terms " strike " and " lock-out " respectively ; section five provides penalties of £10 for a worker, and £500 for an employer who takes part in any strike or lock-out in any industry in respect of which an award or industrial agreement is in force. By section 6, penalties are provided to be enforced against persons encouraging or assisting a strike or lock-out. In section 9, special provisions are made with respect to certain specified industries which directly affect the convenience or health of the public ; and a worker or employer engaged in any of those industries must give at least fourteen days notice of intention to strike or to lock out, and on default shall be liable if a worker to a fine of £25; if an employer to a fine of £500.