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1912, No. 20. The Defence Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act makes numerous amendments of the Defence Act, 1909, with a view to facilitating the administration of that Act. In particular,— Sections 2 to 10 provide for the detention in military custody of persons who make default in the payment of any fines or costs imposed upon them for failure to register or submit themselves to military training under the principal Act, or otherwise commit an offence against that Act. Section 11 empowers the recovery of fines imposed under the principal Act by way of attachment order against the employer of an offender. The charge created by the order attaches to all wages or salary becoming due by the employer to the offender at any time while the fine, or any part thereof, remains unpaid. Sections 12 to 31 repeal the provisions of the principal Act, and make new provisions as to the constitution of courts-martial, and as to the conduct of proceedings and the enforcement of the sentence of any court-martial. The remaining sections consist principally of verbal and other amendments of the principal Act, and relate exclusively to the administration of that Act. 1912, No. 21. The Widows' Pensions Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act extends the benefits of the Widows' Pensions Act, 1911, — (a.) To women whose husbands are detained in an institution for mental defectives, and who are duly certified to be incurable for at least twelve months ; (b.) To certain children born out of New Zealand ; and (c.) To illegitimate children, whose parents subsequently intermarry. Section 6 provides an extended definition of the term " annual income," corresponding to the definition of that term in the Old-age Pensions Act. Section 7 authorizes the review and alteration of a pension-certificate during the currency thereof in cases where the circumstances of the pensioner are materially altered since the issue of the certificate. Section 8 provides that on the death of a widow in receipt of a pension, the guardian of her children to whom the principal Act applies may, with the approval of the Commissioner, receive on behalf of such children the payment to which the widow would have been entitled if she had lived. 1912, No. 22. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various respects the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908. In particular, — Section 2 (relating to the period of detention in an institution for mentally defective persons necessary to constitute a ground of divorce) reduces that period from an aggregate of ten years within a period of twelve years immediately preceding the filing of a petition to an aggregate of seven years within a period of ten years. Section 3 declares that divorced persons may remarry at any time after the making of a decree absolute for the dissolution of a prior marriage, and section 4 declares that no appeal shall lie from such a decree absolute. Section 5 declares to be valid any marriage heretofore celebrated after the making of a decree absolute but before the expiration of the time limited for an appeal therefrom. 1912, No. 23. The Public Service Act, 1912 : This Act repeals the Civil Service Act, 1908, and certain other Acts relating to the Public Service, and makes new provision for the regulation of that service. Part I provides for the appointment of a Commissioner and of two Assistant Commissioners, with a view to ensuring the establishment and continuance: of a proper standard of efficiency and economy in the Public Service. Part II provides for the division of the service into four main divisions —namely, (a) The Administrative Division; (b) the Professional Division; (c) the Clerical Division; and (d) the General. Division—and for the grading (within those four divisions) of all officers for the time being employed in the Public Service. Part 111 provides for the internal administration of the service. Part IV preserves existing rights to compensation for loss of office, and to superannuation allowances. 1912, No. 24. The Marriage Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the appointment of a Deputy Registrar-General, and of Deputies of Registrars of Marriages. 1912, No. 25. The Cemeteries Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the setting-aside as a private burial-ground of any land in which the body of any deceased person has heretofore been buried. The Act also provides for the appointment and incorporation of trustees, and defines the powers of such trustees. 1912, No. 26. The Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the appointment by the Supreme Court, on petition, of managers of the estates of persons who, by reason of age, disease, illness, or physical or mental infirmity, or by reason of their being addicted to the excessive use of alcoholic liquors or of intoxicating or other drugs, are deemed to be unable, wholly or partially, to manage their own affairs. Every manager so appointed shall have such powers and duties in respect of the protected estate as the Court from time to time defines or directs ; and shall, in respect of that property, have the rights and immunities of a trustee as defined by the Trustee Act, 1908. Provision is made for change of manager, and also (where a protected person is proved to the satisfaction of the Court to be of sufficient ability to manage his own affairs) for rescinding any order appointing a manager,