MEAT EXPORT BOUNTIES.

No. 4 of 1923.

An Act to provide for the payment of Bounties on the Export of Beef and Cattle from the Commonwealth.

[Assented to 11th August, 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 Meat Export Bounties Act 1923.

Definitions.

2. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Canned beef” means canned beef which has been passed by a Commonwealth Meat Inspector as fit for export, but does not include edible offal;

“Standard beef” means frozen beef, including boneless and piece beef, which has been passed by a Commonwealth Meat Inspector as fit for export; and

“The Department” means the Department of Trade and Customs.

Appropriation for payment of bounties.

3. There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, the bounties specified in this Act.

Specification of bounties.

4. The bounties under this Act shall be payable in respect of—

(a) the export from the Commonwealth, on or before the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, of standard beef slaughtered on or after the nineteenth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, which is placed in cool store on or before the thirty-first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three;

(b) the export on or before the thirty-first day of March, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-four, from the Commonwealth to a prescribed port, of standard beef, slaughtered on or after the nineteenth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, which is placed in cool store on or before the thirty-first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three;

(c) the export from the Commonwealth, on or before the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, of canned beef, slaughtered on or after the first day of March, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, and canned on or before the thirty-first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three; and

(d) the export from the Commonwealth, on or after the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, and on or before the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, of live cattle for slaughter.

Rates of bounty.

5. The rates of bounty payable under this Act shall be—

(a) in the case of standard beef, one farthing per pound;

(b) in the case of canned beef, one farthing per pound calculated upon the weight of the fresh beef from which the canned beef is produced; and

To whom bounty payable.

6.—(1.) The bounty in the case of standard beef produced from cattle bought by the exporter by weight shall be payable to the vendor of the cattle:

Provided that if the exporter satisfies the Department that he has paid to the vendor of the cattle a price which includes the amount of the bounty, the bounty shall be payable to the exporter.

(2.) The bounty in the case of standard beef produced from cattle bought by the exporter at auction or at a price per head shall be payable to the exporter if the Department is satisfied that the price paid for the cattle includes the amount of the bounty; otherwise, it shall be payable to the vendor.

(3.) The bounty in the case of live cattle exported for slaughter shall be payable only to a person who satisfies the Department that he—

(a) is a bonâ fide pastoralist; and

(b) has exported the cattle for slaughter or sold them for export for slaughter:

Provided that if the exporter satisfies the Department that he purchased the cattle from a bonâ fide pastoralist for export for slaughter, at a price which includes the amount of the bounty, the bounty shall be payable to him.

Power to require information

7. Before any claim for bounty is paid the Department may require the claimant to furnish such information in relation to the ownership, sale or purchase of any cattle, or the export of any cattle or beef, or otherwise, as it thinks fit, and may withhold the bounty until information satisfactory to the Department is furnished.

Bounties may be paid in advance of export.

8. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the bounty payable under this Act upon the export of standard or canned beef may, if the Minister thinks fit, be paid after the beef has been placed in store and in anticipation of export, but in that event security shall be given to the satisfaction of the Minister, and in such form as he requires, for the refund of the bounty paid on any beef not exported from the Commonwealth on or before the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three:

Provided that no refund shall be required under this section of bounty in respect of standard beef, exported to a prescribed port after the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, and on or before the thirty-first day of March, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-four.

Validation of payments before commencement of Act.

9. Any payment in the nature of a bounty on the export of beef or cattle, which is made on or after the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, and before the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to be as valid as if this Act had been in force at the time of payment.

Offences against Act.

10. No person shall—

(a) obtain any bounty which is not payable;

(b) obtain payment of any bounty by means of any false or misleading statement: or

(c) present to any officer or other person doing duty in relation to this Act or the Regulations any document, or make to any such officer or person any statement, which is false in any particular.

Penalty: One hundred pounds or imprisonment for twelve months.

Return to be laid before Parliament.

11. A return setting forth—

(a) the names of all persons to whom bounty is paid under this Act;

(b) the amounts of all such bounty; and

shall be laid before both Houses of the Parliament within thirty days after the expiration of the present financial year, if the Parliament is then sitting, and, if not, then within thirty days after the next meeting of the Parliament.

Regulations.

12. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and in particular for prescribing penalties not exceeding Fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months for any breach of the regulations.