PRIMARY PRODUCERS RELIEF (SUPERPHOSPHATE).

No. 20 of 1943.

An Act to provide Relief to Primary Producers by stabilizing the Price of Superphosphate and for other purposes.

[Assented to 29th March, 1943.]

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:—

Citation.

1.  This Act may be cited as the Primary Producers Relief (Superphosphate) Act 1943.

Commencement.

2.  This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Definitions.

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

“superphosphate” includes any inorganic phosphatic fertilizer;

“the Superphosphate Industry Committee” means the Superphosphate Industry Committee constituted under the National Security (Superphosphate Industry) Regulations (being Statutory Rules 1943, No. 1).

Payments to manufacturers of superphosphate.

4.—(1.)   For the purpose of stabilizing the price of superphosphate during the financial year ending on the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-three, the Minister may, after receipt of a recommendation by the Superphosphate Industry Committee, authorize the making of payments to manufacturers of superphosphate.

(2.)  In making any recommendation for the purposes of this section, the Superphosphate Industry Committee shall take into account any increase in the cost of manufacture of superphosphate which is beyond the control of the manufacturers, together with such other circumstances (if any) as the Committee thinks fit.

Other payments.

5.   The Minister may, after receipt of a recommendation by the Superphosphate Industry Committee, make any other payment which he considers it desirable to make for the purpose of decreasing, or preventing any increase in, the price of superphosphate during the financial year ending on the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-three.

Manner of making payment.

6.  Payments under the last two preceding sections shall be made in such manner as the Minister, after receipt of a recommendation by the Superphosphate Industry Committee, determines.

Appropriation.

7.  There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, such amounts as are necessary—

(a) to make the payments provided for by sections four and five of this Act; and

(b) to pay the expenses and other charges incurred by the Superphosphate Industry Committee, or for which the Superphosphate Industry Committee becomes liable, in the exercise of its powers and functions.

but so that the aggregate of the amounts so appropriated shall not exceed Nine hundred thousand pounds.

Half-yearly reports.

8.  The Minister shall, in the months of January and July in each year, or, if the Parliament is not sitting in any such month, within seven days after the next meeting of the Parliament, furnish to each House of the Parliament a report showing the amount expended under this Act and the manner in which the amount has been expended—

(a) in the case of the first report—since the commencement of this Act; and

(b) in the case of each subsequent report—since the expiration of the period to which the previous report relates.

Regulations.

9.   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.