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36
New Legislation.
Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.
This Act came into force on the 30th August, 1954, and is in two main parts. The
first gives additional powers for dealing with clearance areas and other houses liable to
demolition, and lays down a new standard of fitness for human habitation. Part II
authorises an increase of rent in respect of controlled dwelling houses where certain conditions
concerning repairs are fulfilled. The Act also makes certain other amendments of
the Rent Acts. It repeals section six of the principal Act which enabled local authorities to
make bye-laws with respect to working class houses, and thereby repeals existing byelaws
with respect to houses let in lodgings. In place power is given for securing fitness
for occupation, including separate amenities, by the number of families accommodated
and for preventing overcrowding in this type of accommodation.
The Food and Drugs Amendment Act, 1954.
This Act received Royal Assent on the 25th November, 1954.
With the exception of the provisions of Section 28, which deals with the restriction
of private slaughterhouses, and which came into effect on the 25th November, the
Act does not come into operation until a date early in 1955 to be appointed by order of
the Minister of Food.
This delay is in order to give time for the consolidation of the Food and Drugs
Amendment Act, 1954, with the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the Food and Drugs (Milk,
Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950, and the Slaughterhouses Act, 1954, and also for
the making of Food Hygiene Regulations under the consolidation measure to replace
Section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, which the Food and Drugs Amendment Act,
1954, repeals. It is proposed to bring the consolidating Act and the Food Hygiene
Regulations into force simultaneously.