XN000022-1980-04-17 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1980

HE SAID THAT WITH THE FALL IN MASS CINEMA AUDIENCES, AS WELL AS WITH RISING LAND VALUES AND BUILDING COSTS MINI-CINEMAS, WHOSE NUMBERS HAVE GROWN IN RECENT YEARS, HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO SET UP THROUGH THE BUILDING AUTHORITY MODIFYING THE EXISTING REGULATIONS BY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.

+THIS PROCEDURE IS, HOWEVER, UNSATISFACTORY AND IT IS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT REGULATIONS TO REGULARISE THE POSITION, MR JONES SAID.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED, NEW REGULATIONS WILL BE MADE TO PERMIT AND REGULATE THE LOCATION OF SMALL PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, PARTICULARLY CINEMAS, IN NON-DOMESTIC MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS OR THE NON-DOMESTIC PARTS OF SUCH BUILDINGS.

MR JONES SAID THAT THE NEW REGULATIONS WOULD INCORPORATE THE RELEVANT TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO BUILDING STRUCTURES AND FIRE SAFETY PROVISIONS AND HE STRESSED THAT EXITS FROM PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT WOULD BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE SAME BUILDING IN DIFFERENT USE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE (AMENDMENT) BILL *****

A BILL PROPOSING TO REDESIGNATE THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR SECOND READING TODAY.

AT PRESENT, THE LAW DESIGNATES THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON WILLIAM DORWARD SAID, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IS PART OF THE CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS DEPARTMENT AND THE ANOMALOUS SITUATION EXISTS WHERE THE COMMISSIONER OF THAT DEPARTMENT IS NOT THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.

+NOT SURPRISINGLY, THIS CAUSES CONFUSION AND IS MISLEADING INSOFAR AS THAT OFFICER'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE CONCERNED.+

THE BILL THEREFORE PROPOSED, SAID MR DORWARD, THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS NOW BE THE OFFICER DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNOR TO BE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE AND, AS SUCH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THAT SERVICE.

+ IN THESE DUTIES HE WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR AND OF THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS,+ MR DORWARD ADDED.

/ +IT IS .........