27

A.—l

(d.) Section 14 permits of an arrangement being entered into between the Workers' Dwellings Board, the State Advances Office, and a worker for the purpose of enabling the worker to build a house on a section provided by the Workers' Dwellings Board, part of the cost being provided by the State Advances Office, 1914, No. 37. The Railways Improvement Authorization Act, 1914. —This Act authorizes the raising of a loan of £3,200,000 for railway-improvement purposes, to be raised by instalments not exceeding £750,000 a year. 1914, No. 38. The War Regulations Act, 1914.—The object of this Act is to better secure the public safety, the defence of New Zealand, and the effective conduct of military or naval operations during the continuance of the present war. For these purposes the Governor in Council is empowered to make regulations prohibiting acts deemed to be dangerous. A penalty of twelve months' imprisonment in the case of an alien, three months' imprisonment in any other case, and a fine not exceeding £100 may be imposed for the breach of any such regulation. Prosecutions under the Act are to be by way of summary proceedings and not on indictment. 1914, No. 39. The River Boards Amendment Act, 1914.—This Act modifies certain provisions of the River Boards Act, 1908, and its amendments, in their application to the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board. 1914, No. 40. The Trading with the Enemy Act, 1914.—Trading with the enemy during the continuance of the present war is declared by this Act to be an indictable offence, punishable by— (a.) Imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding five years; or (6.) The payment of a fine not exceeding £1,000; or (c.) Both such imprisonment and payment of fine. In the case of a corporation the maximum fine is fixed at £5,000. Authority is given to a Magistrate, on information laid on behalf of the AttorneyGeneral, to issue a warrant for the inspection of books, production of information as to business, &c, in any case where any person is suspected of carrying on busines contrary to the provisions of the Act. 1914, No. 41. The Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914. —The main purpose of this Act is to enable the Minister of Lands to act as agent for the disposal of kauri-gum on behalf of the gum-diggers during the crisis occasioned by the present war. The Act also provides for the Crown undertaking gum-digging operations in a systematic manner, with a view to the thorough working of the land, and the making of it suitable for agricultural and other industries. In providing for the purchase of gum by the Crown the Minister is authorized to advance up to one-half of the estimated value, and for that purpose may take as the basis of computation the values current before the commencement of the war. 1914. No. 42. The State Advances Amendment Act, 1914. —This Act makes several technical amendments with respect to the adjustment of accounts consequent on the passing of the State Advances Act, 1913. 1914, No. 43. The Road Boards Amendment Act, 1914. —The purpose of this Act is to enable the Governor by Proclamation to extend certain of the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908 (relating to sanitary drainage) to Road Boards. 1914, No. 44. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1914.—This Act authorizes the raising of a loan of £3,000.000 for the following purposes.: — . (a.) Construction of railways, £600,000. (b.) Additional rolling-stock, £500,000. (c.) For land-settlement and goldfields development (the construction of roads and bridges), £1,500,000. (d.) Other public works, £400,000. 1914, No. 45. The Education. Reserves Amendment Act, 1914.—Section 3 authorizes the sale of upwards of 5 acres of any education reserve for certain educational, religious, charitable, or public purpose; and further authorizes the sale of any part of an education endowment (without any restriction as to area) if the Land Board and the Minister are both of opinion that the sale is in the best interests of the endowment. The proceeds of every such sale are to be expended in the purchase of other land to be held for the same educational purpose as the land sold. Under the Education Reserves Amendment Act, 1913, the Governor was empowered to determine certain education leases in the event of the land being required for purposes of closer settlement. Section 4 of the present amendment confers on the lessee whose lease is so determined the right without competition to acquire one of the subdivisions when the land is being again disposed of. 1914, No. 46. The Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1914.—This Act makes certain additional provisions with respect to the procedure prescribed for altering the boundaries of boroughs 1914, No. 47. The Friendly Societies Amendment Act, 1914.—This Act enables friendly societies to make certain concessions (as to payment of dues. <fee.) to members of societies joining any Expeditionary Force, and to other members deprived of employment by reason of the war. 1914, No. 48. The Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Amendment Art. 1914.—This Act corresponds with a recent enactment of the Imperial Parliament, and authorizes the Governor, by regulations, to avoid or suspend patents or licenses where the persons entitled to the benefits therefrom are subjects of a State at war with His Majesty.