21

A.—l

Section 40 makes more stringent, the prohibition of contracts by which the purchaser, lessee, or licensee of a patented article or process is restrained from using or purchasing any article or process not the property of the patentee. Such contracts and others of a similar character are declared to be null and void as being in restraint of trade and contrary to public policy. More effective provision is made by sections 26 to 29 compelling a patentee to issue licenses with respect to patented inventions, or, in the alternative, for the revocation of those patents, Designs. —The most important amendment relating , to designs is the extension of the term of copyright. Under the Act of 1908 the copyright expired on live years from registration; the present Act permits of two renewals, each of five years, thus allowing a total period of fifteen years during which the design may be protected. No. 18. The Education Reserves Amendment Act, 1911 : Extends the leasing-powers of the trustees of high schools in respect of the reserves and endowments controlled by them, and also amends in various respects the provisions of the Education Reserves Act, 1908. No. 19. The Legislature Amendment Act, 1911 : This Ant is designed principally to overcome certain difficulties experienced in the compilation of the electoral rolls. In addition the following provisions, inter alia, are made : — (1.) Section 3 permits an intending voter who is present in a polling-booth but who has not actually voted at the hour of the closing of the poll to record his vote. (2.) Section 5 makes certain necessary provisions for the conduct of the national-pro-hibition poll. (3.) Section 6 fixes an interval of seven days between the first and second ballots in all electoral districts. No. 20. The Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act, 1911 : Authorizes an elector at a local election to record his vote after the close of the poll if he was present in the voting-booth for the purpose of voting before the hour fixed for closing. No. 21. The Public Works Amendment Act, 1911 : Provides for the control by the Public Works Department (instead of by the Post and Telegraph Department) of the licensing, &c, of electric lines for power purposes. Provision is also made for the execution of irrigation agreements between the Minister of Public Works and the occupiers of land in districts where the Minister, under the authority of the Public Works Amendment Act, 1910, has constructed irrigation-works. Such agreements run with the land in respect of which they are made, either during the currency of the lease of the land to which they relate, or until the expiration of the agreement by effluxion of time. Section 9 exempts from the operation of Part XIII of the Land Act, 1908 (relating to limitation of area), land received in exchange for roads or other public purposes, or lands constituting closed or stopped roads. The principal Act is also further amended in various particulars. No. 22. The Tramways Amendment Act, 1911 : This Act amends in various particulars the Tramways Act, 1908, and the Tramways Amendment Act, 1910. No. 23. The Government Railways Amendment Act, 1911 : Increases the rates of wages payable to the men employed in the service of the Government Railways Department, and otherwise amends the Government Railways Act, 1908. No. 24. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, I ill I : Provides for the issue of licenses authorizing the installation of wireless-telegraphy apparatus on board ships registered in New Zealand. Section 2 of this Act fuither provides for the extension of the use of machines for recording stamp-values on documents requiring to be stamped. No. 25. The Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Act, 191 1 : Extends the leasingpowers of local authorities and trustees in respect of public reserves vested in them, by authorizing the execution of leases for twenty-one years, with a single right of renewal for a further period of twenty-one years. No. 26. The Railways Authorization Act, 1911 : Authorizes the construction by the Governor of the several lines of railway specified in the schedule. No. 27. The Representation Commissions' Reports Validation Act, 1911 : By section 41 of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910, the Representation Commissions were directed to declare in their reports the names of the electoral districts included within the boundaries of the several city licensing districts. These particulars were inadvertently omitted from the recent reports of the said Commissions, and this Act validates those reports notwithstanding such omission, and also determines the boundaries of the said licensing districts aforesaid. No. 28. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1911 : This Act provides, inter alia, as follows : — (1.) For the better administration of the Public Service Superannuation Fund. In pursuance of section 2, all contributions are made payable in the first place into the Post Office Account, and all outgoings are paid from that account. The balance only is paid to the Public Trustee, and forms part of the Common Fund of the Public Trust Office. Interest will be paid on this balance in accordance with the regulations from time to time governing the Common Fund; under the former system moneys belonging to this fund were frequently held over awaiting special investment in terms of the Act. The estimated saving to the fund in administration expenses and in additional interest is estimated at £750 per annum. (2.) Section 6 permits the transfer of officers from any branch of the Government service other than the Civil Service to the Civil Service; such transfers are to be made only in accordance with regulations, and after not less than ten years' service, and only to a position similar to that held by the person proposed to be transferred. '