visions of such of the War Regulations as it was deemed advisable to continue permanently in operation. The main provisions are as follows :

(1) Except in the case of returned soldiers or their relatives the possession of automatic pistols or of ammunition specially intended or adapted for use with automatic pistols is absolutely prohibited. In the case of returned soldiers or their relatives the Minister of Defence is empowered to issue a licence authorizing the retention of automatic pistols that may have been brought by returned soldiers from beyond the seas. This exemption was made as a concession to sentiment.

(2) It is made an offence for any person to carry a pistol beyond the limits of his dwelling-house, save pursuant to the terms of a licence issued by an officer of police.

(3) It is made an offence for any person to be in possession of any firearms, ammunition, explosives, or dangerous weapon except for some lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose. The burden of proving the existence of such purpose in any case is upon the accused.

(4) No person other than a licensed dealer is permitted to import into New Zealand any firearms, ammunition, or explosives, save pursuant to a permit issued by an officer of police.

(5) No person other than a licensed dealer is entitled to obtain possession of any firearms, ammunition, or explosives, save pursuant to a permit issued by an officer of police.

(6) The Governor-General is empowered to proclaim areas within which the possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives is prohibited. On the proclamation of any such area it becomes the duty of all persons therein who may be in possession of firearms or other prohibited articles to deliver the same to an officer of police.

(7) All persons in possession of firearms are required to be registered. (8) Special provisions are made for licensing dealers in firearms, ammunition, and explosives. On being authorized by the Commissioner ✔ of Police, any officer of police may seize and take possession of all firearms, ammunition, and explosives in the possession or under the control of a licensed dealer.

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(9) It is made an offence punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment for two months or a fine of £20 for any person to present a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, except for some lawful and sufficient purpose.

Criminal Appeals. -The Crimes Amendment Act (1920, No. 15) gives to persons convicted of indictable offences a right of appeal to the New Zealand Court of Appeal on the ground that the sentence is excessive, except in cases where the sentence is one fixed by law. On the hearing of any such appeal the Court of Appeal may quash the sentence, and pass any other sentence warranted by law, whether more or less severe, or may dismiss the appeal.

Masseurs. The Masseurs Registration Act (1920, No. 16) makes provision for the registration of masseurs.

Registration may be effected on application to a specially appointed Board consisting of the Director-General of Health, a person engaged in the practice of massage, and a registered medical practitioner. Provision is made for the registration without further examination of persons engaged in the business of massage before the passing of the Act. Other persons applying for registration are required to pass an examination in both theoretical and practical massage, and to have undergone a course of instruction in anatomy, physiology, and theoretical massage, and also practical massage. It is made an offence for any person, not being a registered masseur, to describe himself as a masseur or massage expert, or to use in connection with his business any words, initials, or abbreviations intended or likely to cause any person to believe that he is a registered masseur.

Taxation. The Land- and Income-tax (Annual) Act (1920, No. 17) fixes rates of land-tax and income-tax, including special war-tax for the year commencing April 1, 1920. The rates are the same as those fixed for the preceding year by the Act of 1919. The rates of taxation for the year commencing April 1, 1921, were provisionally fixed by a later Act-the Land- and Income-tax Amendment Act (1920, No. 35)—which has since been confirmed by the Finance Act, 1921.

Natives. The Native Trustee Act (1920, No. 21) makes provision for the appointment of a Native Trustee, and of an Advisory Board to be known as the Native Trust Office Board. All lands and other property held by the Public Trustee on behalf of persons of the native race are transferred to the Native Trustee. In addition to ordinary powers of investment, the Native Trustee is specially empowered to invest moneys in the Native Trustee's Account in advances secured by the mortgage of freehold or leasehold interests in native land. It is specially provided (following on similar provision in the Public Trust Office Act) that any deficiency in the Native Trustee's Account may be met by payments out of the Consolidated Fund without further appropriation.

War Regulations. - The War Regulations Continuance Act (1920, No. 22) continues in operation until there may be specifically revoked certain Regulations made under the authority of the War Regulations Act, 1914. Certain of these regulations are declared to continue in force as if they were Board of Trade Regulations made under the Board of Trade Act, 1919. The last-mentioned Regulations all relate to matters affecting industry or commerce and are within the scope of the powers of the Governor-General to make Board of Trade Regulations. Certain other War Regulations (relating largely to matters affecting enemy property and to graver offences of violence and sedition) are continued in force as War Regulations and are set out in full in the Second Schedule to the Act. All other War Regulations are specifically declared to be revoked and the War Regulations Act of 1914 and its amendments are repealed.

Immigration. The Immigration Restriction Amendment Act (1920, No. 23) marks an important advance in the policy of the Legislature towards the attainment of its ideal of a

White "New Zealand. Subject to certain exceptions it provides that no person (other than a person of British birth and parentage) shall enter New Zealand unless he is in possession of a permit so to do. The reference to persons of British birth and parentage does not include persons belonging to aboriginal races of any Dominion other than New Zealand, or of any colony or other possession or protectorate. The Governor-General is empowered to exempt from the operation of the Act any specified "nations or peoples." Special provision is made for the issue of temporary permits for persons desirous of coming to New Zealand for purposes of business, pleasure, or health. Application for permits to enter New Zealand for the purpose of taking up permanent residence must be made in the prescribed form addressed to the Minister of Customs and sent by post from the country of origin of the applicant or other country where he has resided for at least one year

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prior to the making of the application. Persons who enter New Zealand or who attempt to enter New Zealand without a permit are deemed to be prohibited immigrants" within the meaning of the Immigration Restriction Act, 1908.

Oaths of Allegiance or Obedience to Law. -Every person entering New Zealand is required, if a British subject, to take the Oath of Allegiance, if not a British subject, to take an oath that he will, while in New Zealand, faithfully observe and obey the laws of New Zealand, and that he will not be concerned in any manner in any act of disloyalty to His Majesty.

Summary Prosecution of Military Offenders. - The Military Service Amendment Act (1920, No. 25) abolishes procedure by way of Court Martial for offences committed against the Military Service Act, 1916, and substitutes proceedings by way of summary prosecution.

Treaties of Peace. -The Treaties of Peace Amendment Act (1920, ☐ No. 28) extends by one year the operation of the Treaties of Peace Act, 1919 (enabling the Governor-General in Council to make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Treaties of Peace with Germany and other belligerent States). By an Act subsequently passed (the Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws Continuance Act, 1921) the operation of the Treaties of Peace Act, 1919, has been further extended to December 31, 1921.

Loans for Settlement of Discharged Soldiers. - The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Loans Act (1920, No. 30) authorizes the Minister of Finance to borrow £6,000,000 for the purposes of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Acts. Securities to the value of £2,500,000 (portion of the sum so authorized to be borrowed) may be issued subject to the special condition that they are available for the payment of death duties.

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Compulsory Subscription to Loans. - The policy of compulsory subscription to loans" was first adopted in New Zealand with reference to the War Purposes Loan of 1917 (Journal, Third Series, vol. i., Part II.) and has been annually applied to subsequent loans. In each case the amount of the standard subscription has been fixed by reference to the land-tax and income-tax paid by the subscriber; the proportion of subscription to tax has been varied, but in other respects the original scheme has not been substantially altered.

If any tax-payer fails to subscribe to the loan to an extent proportionate with his means he may be compelled to subscribe subject to a penalty equal to double the total amount of land-tax and income-tax payable by him for the year commencing on April 1, 1919. The maximum amount that any tax-payer may be called upon to subscribe is an amount equal to the yearly average of land-tax and income-tax payable by him for the three years ended March 31, 1920. Persons aggrieved by a demand to subscribe to the loan have a right of appeal on the ground of undue hardship to a specially constituted Board of public officials.

Civil List. The Civil List Act (1920, No. 31) repeals the Civil List Act, 1908, and its several amendments, and re-enacts them with substantial amendment.

Provision is made, inter alia, for the payment of the salaries of :

(a) The Governor-General.

(b) Ministers of the Crown.

(c) Members of Parliament, and

(d) Officers of Parliament.

Election of Legislative Council. -The Legislative Council Amendment Act (1920, No. 32) further postpones the date for the commencement of the Legislative Council Act, 1914, providing for election in lieu of appointment of Legislative Councillors. The Proclamation issued on December 23, 1919, pursuant to the amending Act of 1918 (Journal, Third Series, vol. ii., Part II., p. 95) has been revoked by the present amending Act, and it would appear that the policy of an elective Upper House is not without opponents in the ranks of the political party in power.

Company Law. The Companies Amendment Act (1920, No. 34) enables companies whose objects are the manufacture of butter and cheese to carry on associated industries (e.g. the manufacture of casein and other by. products) without first having effected an alteration of their memoranda or articles of association. Similar legislation was passed (as a temporary measure during the war) in 1916 (Journal, Review of Legislation for 1916, p. 157). The temporary revisions are now repealed and the present provisions substituted as a permanent amendment of the Companies Acts.

Apprentices. The Master and Apprentice Amendment Act (1920, No. 36) relates specially to farm apprentices. Part I applies to indentures of apprenticeship to New Zealand farmer-employers of boys resident in the United Kingdom. Special provisions are made for the execution of such indentures by the High Commissioner in England on behalf of the proposed employers in New Zealand. With respect to such apprentices from the United Kingdom, it is provided that an employer may complain of any breach of duty, disobedience, or ill-behaviour, and, in any such case, the justices hearing the complaint may determine that it is in the best interests of the apprentice that the indenture should be cancelled and the apprentice sent back to the United Kingdom, and may make an order to that effect accordingly.

The Act specifically recognizes the duty undertaken by the Government of New Zealand to protect and promote the welfare of the boys who may come to New Zealand as farm apprentices under the Act.

Part II makes special provisions with respect to apprenticeship of New Zealand boys as farmers. In the case both of boys from the United Kingdom and of New Zealand boys indentures of farm apprenticeship continue until the apprentice attains the age of twenty years. Ir dentures under the Principal Act expire at the age of nineteen years.

Offenders' Probation. - The Offenders' Probation Act (1920, No. 39 repeals the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1908, which was a re-enact ment of the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1886, and its amendments The present Act is substantially a re-enactment of the repealed Act, bu extends the benefits of the Act to all offenders who, in the opinion of the convicting Court, are fit subjects for probationary treatment (whethe first offenders or not). Persons admitted to probation are required t report regularly to specially appointed probation officers. A breach d the conditions of a probationary licence is itself a punishable offence.

Horse-racing. The Gaming Amendment Act, No. 2 (1920, No. 4 provides for the setting up of a Commission to inquire and report as t whether or not the number of permits annually issued for the use of th totalizator at race-meetings should be increased or reduced.

Death Duties and Gift Duty. - The Death Duties Amendment Act (102) No. 42) considerably increases the scales of estate duty, succession duty and gift duty under the Death Duties Act, 1909. In the case of est duty the rate is graded from 1 per cent. (in the case of estates not exce (2,000) to 20 per cent. in the case of estates exceeding £100,000. Ind

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case of succession duties an additional rate (equal to 10 per cent. of the excess over £1,000 of the value of the succession) is charged in respect of moneys exceeding £1,000 that may be payable to persons domiciled out of New Zealand (not being in any case the wife or husband of the deceased or a relative within the third degree of consanguinity. In the case of Gift Duty the rates are as follows:

(1) 5 per cent. (up to £5,000);

(2) 7 per cent. (from £5,000 to £10,000); and
(3) 10 per cent. (exceeding £10,000).

A defect in the Act (which does not make provision for the " accumudilation" of gifts) permits of the evasion of the higher rates of duty by the subdivision of gifts.

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Land. The Land Laws Amendment Act (1920, No. 43) amends in various particulars the law relating to ordinary Crown Land and Settlement Land (i.e. land acquired by the Crown for purposes of closer settleitment). The principal modification of the former land policy of the Legislature is in s. II, which enables a limited area of national endowment land to be excluded from the national endowment and acquired in fee Ei simple by the present holders. The proceeds of sale are to be paid into a special account to be known as the "National Endowment Trust Account," which is to be administered by a special Board and the revenues disposed of in the same way as if they had been derived from national endowment land.

Explosive and Dangerous Goods.--The Explosive and Dangerous Goods Amendment Act (1920, No. 44) makes provision for the safety of life and property with respect to the storage and carriage of petroleum spirit, petroleum oil, and other goods of a like nature. The general administration of the Act is in the hands of a Department of State (whose chief execuиtive officer is the "Chief Inspector of Explosives ''), but special provision is made enabling local authorities to make provision by by-laws for the torage and carriage of dangerous goods within their respective districts.

Public Health. - The Health Act (1920, No. 45) repeals the Public Health Act, 1908, and its amendments, and makes comprehensive provision with respect to the maintenance and promotion of public health. The Act establishes an Advisory Board to be known as the Board of Health. It also establishes a Department of Health with the following ivisions, viz. the divisions of Public Hygiene, Hospitals, Nursing, School Hygiene, Dental Hygiene, Child Welfare, and Maori Hygiene.

The functions of the Department of Health are :

(a) To administer the Health Act and other Acts designed to promote ublic health.

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(b) To advise local authorities in relation to their duty of protecting promoting public health.

(c) The prevention, limitation, and suppression of infectious diseases. (d) The carrying out of researches and investigations in matters

ffecting public health.

(e) The organization and control of medical, dental, and nursing ervices, so far as such services are paid for out of public moneys.

Local authorities (Borough Councils, County Councils, and Town Boards) are specifically charged with the promotion and conservation of ublic health within their respective districts, and for this purpose are equired:

(a) To appoint all necessary sanitary inspectors.