MAIN ROADS DEVELOPMENT.

No. 2 of 1923.

An Act relating to Main Roads Development.

[Assented to 2nd July, 1923.]

Preamble.

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Main Roads Development Act 1923.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall be deemed to have commenced on the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three.

Appropriation of amount not exceeding £500,000.

3. There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, an amount not exceeding Five hundred thousand pounds, for the purposes of this Act.

Payment of appropriation to Trust Account.

4.—(1.) For the purposes of this Act there shall be a Trust Account, known as the Main Roads Development Trust Account, which shall be kept in the books of the Treasury.

(2.)  The Account established in pursuance of this section shall be a Trust Account within the meaning of section sixty-two a of the Audit Act 1901-1920.

(3.)  Upon the commencement of this Act the amount appropriated by this Act shall be paid to and form part of the Main Roads Development Trust Account.

Grants to States for main roads development.

5. The Minister may, subject to this Act, pay from the Trust Account established in pursuance of this Act, to the Government of each State of the Commonwealth, amounts not exceeding those respectively specified in the Schedule to this Act.

Basis of payments.

6. The amount payable under the last preceding section shall not in the case of any State exceed One pound sterling for even-pound sterling expended by that State upon the development of main roads.

Questions to be decided by Minister.

7. Any question arising as to the amount of any payment proposed to be made under this Act, or as to the time of payment of any such amount, or as to the main roads in respect of which any such payment is made, shall be determined by the Minister, and his decision shall be final.

Methods of construction.

8. No payment shall be made under this Act unless—

(a) there is submitted to the Minister a proposal in writing, specifying the main roads upon which the money paid is to be expended, and containing full details of the proposed roads, including plans, method of construction and such other particulars as the Minister requires; and

(b) the proposal is approved by the Minister.

Regulations.

9. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all things which are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for giving effect to this Act, and in particular—

(a) for prescribing the classes of roads which are to be deemed to be main roads for the purposes of this Act; and

(b) for empowering the Minister to impose conditions in relation to the expenditure of any moneys paid or payable in pursuance of this Act.

THE SCHEDULE.