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No. 20. The New Zealand Society of Accountants Amendment Act, 1909: Extending to the 31st March, 1910, the time for application for registration under the principal Act in respect of qualifications possessed prior to the date of the passing of the principal Act. No. 21. The Customs Duties Amendment Act, 1909: Imposing a surtax (a duty of Customs or excise), being 1 per cent, in the case of tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes, and 2£ per cent, in the case of all other dutiable goods. N<>. 22. The Old-age Pensions Amendment Act, 1909 : Amending the Old-age Pensions Act, 1908, in respect of the mode of computing the value of accumulated property, and of the income derived therefrom. No. 23. Race-meetings Act, 1909: Providing for the issue of licenses to racing clubs, and enacting that horse-racing conducted by other than a licensed racing club, or conducted by such a club otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of its license, shall be illegal. No. 24. The Urewera District Native Reserve Amendment Act, 1909: Amending the Urewera District Native Reserve Act, 1896, in accordance with the provisions of the Native Land Act, 1909. Nil. 25. The Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, 1909: Amending the Workers' Compensation Act, 1908, by removing pneumoconiosis from the list of diseases arising out of employment for which compensation may be claimed. No. 26. The Magistrates' Courts Amendment Act, 1909: Making miscellaneous amendments of the principal Act, as to giving notice in certain cases as to intention to defend; of the particulars required in a statement of claim for goods sold and delivered; and other matters. No. 27. The Gold Duty Amendment Act, 1909: Amending the Gold Duty Act, 1908. No. 28. The Defence Act, 1909: Consolidates and amends the law relating to the internal defence of New Zealand. The principal new feature of this Act is the enactment of a scheme of compulsory military training, applicable to " all male inhabitants of New Zealand who have resided therein for six months, and are British subjects " between the ages of twelve and thirty years. Training to be effected as follows : — (a.) In the Junior Cadets (from twelve to fourteen years). (b.) In the Senior Cadets (from fourteen to eighteen years). (c.) In the General Training Section (from eighteen to twenty-one years). (d.) In the Reserve (from twenty-one to thirty years). For the Junior Cadets there shall be at least fifty-two hours' training in the course of the year; for the Senior Cadets six whole-day drills, twelve half-day drills, and twenty-four night drills, the training to comprise exercises in discipline, elementary military exercises, and also musketry or gunnery; the General Training Section is to undergo fourteen days in training-camp, and twelve half-days, with the exception of the artillery and engineer branches, who have fourteen days' and twenty half-days' training. Two muster parades of the Reserve are to be held every year. Exemption from military services may be granted on the ground of religious objections, but persons exempted may be called upon to perform equal services of a non-combatant nature. No. 29. The Land for Settlements Administration Act, 1909: Making miscellaneous amendments of the Land for Settlements Act, 1908. Among other things the Act provides for the acquisition by purchase or exchange, within twenty miles of any borough having a population of more than 1,000, of lands for the purpose of homes and home-farms for workers. Such land is to be classified as urban, suburban, or rural, and allotments shall not exceed £ acre in the case of urban, 5 acres for suburban, and 10 acres for rural allotments. No. 30. Ihe Reformatory Institutions Act, 1909 : This Act repeals the provisions of the Police Offences Act, 1908, as to habitual drunkards, and makes more extensive and effective provision as to the detention and treatment of habitual inebriates, and of fallen women. Provision is mads for the recognition by the Governor of Inebriates' Homes and of Reformatory Homes conducted by philanthropic institutions, and for the commitment by Magistrates and other judicial officers to those homes of persons coming within the terms of the Act. No. 31. The New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Act, 1909: This Act repeals and re-enacts with substantial alterations the Government .Advances to Settlers Act, 1908. A new office, to be known as the New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Office, is constituted, to be administered by a Superintendent to be appointed by, and to hold office during, the pleasure of the Governor. There is also constituted a New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Board, consisting of six persons, for the purpose of carrying out the purposes of the Act. The business of the office is the advancing of money, and is carried on in six separate branches of the office above-mentioned, namely: — (a.) The Advances to Settlers Branch. (b.) The Advances to Workers Branch. (c.) The Advances to Local Authorities Branch. (d.) The Guaranteed Mining Advances Branch. (c.) The Land for Settlements Branch. (/.) The Native Land Settlement Branch. The moneys required for the purposes of the Act may be raised by the Minister of Financo in the name of the Superintendent; they shall be deemed to be a liability of the Superintendent in his corporate capacity, and shall be guaranteed by the Government of New Zealand. The moneys so raised shall constitute a charge upon — (a.) All the assets of the Advances Office. (6.) Land vested in the Crown and subject to the Land for Settlements Act, 1908. (c.) Land vested in the Crown by virtue of purchases made under the authority of the Native Land Act, 1909.

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