and supplies imported by or for the company for use in connection with its aviation operations in Bermuda.

Police. No. 14 provides for the increase and reorganization of the Police Force, and makes substantial increases to the salaries of its members.

Hospital. No. 15 makes provision for the administration and maintenance of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital erected in memory of his late Majesty and in commemoration of his illustrious reign.

Scholarships.-No. 20 increases to £200 the annual value of the two Bermuda Scholarships established in 1905 with the object of enabling candidates for the local Rhodes Scholarships to have two years' education out of Bermuda prior to going to Oxford University.

Development of the Colony.-No. 25 confers on the Bermuda Development Company, Limited, a local corporation, power to purchase or acquire compulsorily a tract of land comprising about 500 acres for the purpose of developing the tourist and hotel business in the Colony. Under a previous Act (No. 19) of the same session the company was given extensive powers to carry on the business of hotel-keepers and proprietors of places of amusement, recreation, and sport, including golf-courses, tennis-courts, and out-door sports of every description.

Leave of Absence.-No. 28 regulates the granting of leave to public officers, as the Colonial Office Regulations on the subject were not applicable to this Colony. The length of vacation leave varies according to the grade in which the officer is included, there being three grades.

Public Health.-No. 32 is an elaborate Act which consolidates and amends ten previous Acts on the subject, and was the most important Act

of the year.

Currency.-No. 40 provides that any British currency note, which has ceased to be legal tender in the United Kingdom, shall cease to be legal tender in Bermuda after a date fixed by the Governor by proclamation.

Foreign Banks.-No. 43 precludes such banks as are defined in the Act from commencing or carrying on business in Bermuda except under a licence to be issued and renewed annually under the authority of the Governor. The expression "foreign bank " includes: (a) any individual banker carrying on business, who is not a natural-born British subject; (b) any banking or trust company incorporated or whose head office is in any foreign country; (c) any banking or trust company incorporated in or whose head office is in the United Kingdom or in any British Dominion or Colony, but of which more than half the shares or stock shall be held by persons other than natural-born British subjects.

III. AUSTRALASIA.

1. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
[Contributed by SIR ROBERT GARRAN, K.C.M.G.]

Acts passed-56.

The bulk of the legislation passed in 1920 dealt with matters arising out of the war and the transition from war to peace. Some rather important amending Acts were passed; also new measures dealing with air navigation, aliens, industrial peace, and the establishment of an Institute of Science and Industry.

Air Navigation.-The Air Navigation Act, 1920 (No. 50 of 1920), authorizes the making of regulations to give effect to the Paris Convention for the Regulation of Aerial Navigation and to provide for the control of air navigation in the Commonwealth and the Territories under its control.

Aliens.-The Aliens Registration Act, 1920 (No. 49 of 1920), places on aliens resident in the Commonwealth and aliens entering the Commonwealth the obligation of becoming registered under the Act. Aliens resident in the Commonwealth may effect registration by giving notice in the prescribed form to the nearest aliens registration officer. Aliens entering the Commonwealth on an oversea vessel must attend in person before an aliens registration officer on board the vessel at the first port of call in the Commonwealth. Aliens resident in the Commonwealth must also notify the nearest aliens registration officer in regard to any change of abode or change of name. Foreign Consuls and their staffs and certain other persons are exempt from the Act.

Audit.-The Audit Act, 1920 (No. 23 of 1920), makes a number of amendments to the Audit Act, 1901-1917. The main amendment deals with the duties of the Auditor-General in regard to the auditing of returns, cash-sheets, vouchers, etc. The principal Act contained detailed directions in regard to this matter, but this provision has now been superseded by a short general provision which leaves more to the discretion of the Auditor-General. It directs him to audit the documents referred to, and to ascertain two things, namely (1) whether the moneys disbursed were legally available for, and applicable to, the service or purpose to which they have been applied or charged, and (2) whether the provisions of the Constitution and of the Acts and Regulations relating to public moneys have been complied with. The Act also empowers the Auditor-General to admit certain vouchers where he is satisfied that they have been completely checked and examined by departmental officers. The provisions in regard to the giving of receipts have been made less stringent, and the giving of receipts for salaries and allowances is no longer required, a certificate by the officer making the payments being sufficient.

Canteen Funds.-The Australian Imperial Force Canteens Funds Act, 1920 (No. 3 of 1920), provides for the distribution of surplus moneys of canteens established in connection with that Force. These moneys and certain other moneys are to form a fund to be vested in trustees appointed by or under the Act. The trustees are charged with the duty of receiving and considering applications from the widows and orphans, widowed mothers, and other immediate dependents of deceased soldiers, and from disabled soldiers, for assistance and benefits. Advisory Committees must be appointed in each State and an annual report furnished to Parliament.

Customs.-The Customs Act, 1920 (No. 41 of 1920), deals with the problem of assessing the value of goods for duty having regard to fluc tuations in the rate of exchange. The Act provides that the Minister may, upon the recommendation of the Commonwealth Board of Trade, direct that the value of goods for duty be calculated according to the "Bank rate of exchange or the Mint par rate of exchange." The Bank rate of exchange" is defined as " the rate of exchange on London at which commercial transactions are settled between two countries," and the "Mint par rate of exchange " as "the standard value of the coins of any country as compared with the pound sterling in gold coin." Direc

tions by the Minister under the Act are subject to disallowance by either House of Parliament.

Immigration.-The Immigration Act, 1920 (No. 51 of 1920), amends the Immigration Act, 1901-1912. The list of prohibited immigrants is supplemented by the addition of idiots, imbeciles, and insane persons, persons who advocate the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of any civilized country or who advocate certain other specified doctrines of a similar character, or belong to an organization which advocates such doctrines, and persons over sixteen years of age who are not in possession of a passport. For a period of five years and thereafter until the Government otherwise determines, persons of German, AustroGerman, Bulgarian, or Hungarian parentage and nationality and Turks of Ottoman race are also prohibited immigrants. Arrangements may be made with other countries for the exemption of citizens of those countries from the provision in regard to passports. Immigrants may be deported within three years after their arrival in Australia if they are convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for one year or longer, and in certain other circumstances.

Judiciary. Under the Judiciary Act, 1903-1915, the Full Court of the High Court could not give a decision affecting the constitutional powers of the Commonwealth unless it was concurred in by a majority of the justices of the Court. The Judiciary Act, 1920 (No. 38 of 1920), provides that a decision may be given in such cases if at least three justices concur in it.

Industrial Peace.-The Industrial Peace Act, 1920 (No. 21 of 1920), as amended by the Industrial Peace (No. 2), 1920 (No. 55 of 1920), makes an addition to the legislation dealing with the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes. It does not supersede the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but provides additional machinery for dealing with the problem of industrial unrest, so far as the Commonwealth has power to do so. The Act expressly states that it is to be read and construed subject to the Constitution, and where any section is construed as in excess of the powers given by the Constitution it is nevertheless to be regarded as valid to the extent to which it is not in excess of those powers. "Industrial dispute" is defined as including (inter alia) any dispute in relation to employment in any industry carried on by or under the control of the Commonwealth or a State.

Provision is made for the establishment of a Commonwealth Council of Industrial Representatives, consisting of a chairman and an even number of members (not less than six nor more than eight). The chairman is to be chosen by agreement between the representatives of employers and employees. In default of agreement he will be appointed by the Governor-General. Employers and employees will be equally represented on the Council, and the members of the Council will receive such remuneration as the Governor-General directs. Meetings of the Council may be convened by the chairman whenever he thinks fit, or when requested by the Minister or by a majority of the members. The Council will have power to consider matters and tendencies in any part of the Commonwealth leading or likely to lead to industrial unrest; to inquire into, and declare its opinion on, any matter brought before it by a member or referred to it by the Governor-General; to confer with persons or associations in regard to matters affecting the prevention or settlement of industrial disputes; to appoint committees for the purpose of inquiry or con

ference; to summon persons before the Council or a committee for the purpose of conference or of giving evidence; and to make reports to the Governor-General concerning any industrial matter.

In addition to the Commonwealth Council of Industrial Representatives the Act provides for the establishment of District Councils of Industrial Representatives in each State or part of the Commonwealth. These District Councils will be constituted and convened in the same way as the Commonwealth Council, and their powers, within their own spheres, will also be similar.

In addition to the Commonwealth Council and the District Councils, the Governor-General may appoint Special Tribunals for the prevention or settlement of any industrial dispute or disputes. These tribunals will be constituted on the same lines as the Councils. They may deal with disputes referred to them by the parties, and with certain other disputes, but they must not deal with any dispute in respect of which a plaint is pending before the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. They will have power to inquire into all matters relevant to the dispute from the point of production to the final disposal of the commodity; but no trade secrets may be disclosed except with the consent of the owner thereof, and evidence regarding such matter may be taken in private. For the purpose of preventing or settling industrial disputes, any Special Tribunal, or the chairman thereof, or the Minister or any person authorized by the Minister, may convene compulsory conferences, which may be held in public or in private, at the discretion of the person or Tribunal summoning the conference.

In connection with the settlement of industrial disputes of which they have cognizance, and in addition to other powers conferred under the Act, the Special Tribunals will have all the powers which the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration has in regard to disputes within its cognizance; their awards may be enforced as awards of that Court, and agreements may be made between the parties and filed with the Industrial Registrar as if they were agreements made under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

In connection with any Special Tribunal, Local Boards may be appointed to exercise jurisdiction within such limits as may be prescribed by regulation or defined by the Special Tribunal. These Local Boards will consist of a chairman and one representative of the employers and employees. A Local Board may determine any industrial dispute referred to it by the parties or by the Special Tribunal in relation to which it was appointed. In regard to hearing and determining disputes, varying its awards, and enforcing its awards, a Local Board will occupy practically the same position as the Special Tribunal; but any determination by the Board will be subject to review by the Special Tribunal.

When an alleged industrial dispute is referred to a Special Tribunal or Local Board any party may apply to the High Court for a decision on the question as to whether an inter-State dispute exists or is threatened, impending or probable. A similar application may be made to the High Court in regard to any point of law arising in relation to the dispute or to any proceedings in connection with it. Such applications may be heard and determined by a single judge, whose decision will be final and without appeal.

Awards and orders made by Special Tribunals or Local Boards must not be challenged or questioned in any Court, but the chairman of any

such Tribunal or Board may himself remit any point of law to the High Court for determination.

Nationality. The Nationality Act, 1920 (No. 48 of 1920), repeals the Naturalization Act, 1903-1917, and substitutes new provisions. In regard to the naturalization of aliens, the Act adopts Part II. of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, as amended by the Act of 1918. It also contains general provisions copied from the British Act in regard to the definition of a natural-born British subject, the national status of married women and infant children, and the loss of British nationality. The procedure to be followed by applicants for naturalization is substantially the same as that required by the repealed

Act.

Note Issue. The Commonwealth Bank Act, 1920 (No. 43 of 1920), transfers the control and issue of Australian Notes from the Treasurer to the Commonwealth Bank. Provision is made, however, for the retransfer to the Treasurer in time of emergency of the control and of E responsibility for the whole or part of the note issue.

1

Parliamentary Allowances.-The Parliamentary Allowance Act, 1920 (No. 19 of 1920), increases the allowance payable to members of the Commonwealth Parliament from £600 to £1,000 per annum.

Passports.-The Passports Act, 1920 (No. 46 of 1920), requires all persons leaving the Commonwealth to have passports viséd or indorsed in the prescribed manner, but persons under sixteen years of age and certain other specified persons are exempt from this requirement. Passports must contain a personal description sufficient for identification and must have photographs attached. Persons entering the Commonwealth may be required to give up their passports, and no alien seaman may be discharged in the Commonwealth unless he lodges with an authorized officer his passport and any certificate of nationality or other official certificate establishing his nationality and identity which is in his possession.

Public Service.-The Arbitration (Public Service) Act, 1920 (No. 28 of 1920), deals with the terms and conditions of employment of officers and employees of the Public Service. The Arbitration (Public Service) Act, 1911, authorized these officers and employees to form associations, which, upon being registered as organizations, could submit questions relating to the terms and conditions of employment for determination by the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. The Act of 1920 does not affect the provisions relating to the formation and registration of associations, but it removes the function of determining questions relating to employment in the Public Service from the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration to a Public Service Arbitrator specially appointed to deal with these matters. Any organization may submit to the Arbitrator a claim relating to salaries, wages, etc. The Arbitrator must then forward a copy of the claim to the Public Service Commissioner and to the Minister of any Department affected, and these persons may lodge objections. If no objections are lodged he must determine the claim in favour of the claimant organization. If objections are lodged the Arbitrator must call a conference, presided over by himself, of representatives of the parties. Following on this conference and after hearing such evidence as he requires on matters not agreed to at the conference, he must determine the claim. Any of the parties mentioned may at any time apply for a variation of any determination, and the procedure on such applications is similar to that already described.