WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1984
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+ THE COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT WILL MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THIS STATUTORY POWER SHOULD BE EXERCISED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE DATE OF THE OFFENCE OR ACCIDENT, HE STRESSED.
+ THE BILL IS ONE OF A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS IN A TIDYING UP EXERCISE SINCE THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN DECEMBER 1982, + HE SAID.
THE NEW LEGISLATION IS SCHEDULED TO COME INTO OPERATION ON AUGUST 28, 1984.
CASH AID TO MACS ADEQUATE'
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN BY GOVERNMENT TO MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IS GENERALLY ADEQUATE, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DAVID AKĒRS-JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG, HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE MAXIMUM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO EACH MAC ANNUALLY HAD BEEN INCREASED FROM $1 200 IN 1979 TO $2 000 IN 1983, MOST MACS ONLY CLAIMED ABOUT 80 TO 90 PER CENT OF THIS MAXIMUM CEILING ON PRODUCTION OF RECEIPTED BILLS,
+MANY MACS PREFER TO FINANCE THE IR OWN OPERATIONS FROM MEMBERS' CONTRIBUTIONS AND DO NOT CLAIM AT ALL, HE SAID.
+THIS ASSISTANCE IS INTENDED TO HELP MACS MEET THE DAY-TO- DAY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF THEIR OFFICES, SUCH AS TELEPHONES, ELECTRICITY AND RATES.
+ THE GOVERNMENT REVIEWS THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN FROM TIME TO TIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.+
OFFENCES CARRYING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT UNDER REVIEW
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THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE RANGE OF OFFENCES FOR WHICH CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS A SENTENCING OPTION SO AS TO IDENTIFY THOSE FOR WHICH IT MAY NO LONGER BE APPROPRIATE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GORDON MORTIMER, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
BUT MR MORTIMER ADDED, +WHETHER CORPORAL PUNISHMENT WOULD BE MORE FREQUENTLY ADMINISTERED IN FUTURE IS ENTIRELY A MATTER FOR THE COURTS AND NOT A MATTER OVER WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CAN EXERCISE ANY CONTROL EXCEPT BY THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION*,
/IN REPLY