Official Inquiries Evidence Act of 1910 (1 Geo v No. 26) (Qld)

9658 ELECTORAL DISTRICTS-EVIDENCE. Official Inquiries Evidence Act. 1 GEO. V. No. 26, (iv.) 'rhereupon the new boundaries of the said Elcctoral Districts shall forthwith be pro- claimed by the Governor in Council in the Gazette, and shall for all purposes be the boundaries of such Districts until any further adjustment of the boundaries of any· of them is made under this Act; (v.) Thc Principal Electoral Registrar shall, within the prescribed time, compile from the existing· Electoral Rolls of the Electoral Districts affected by the adjustment Electoral Rolls of electors entitled to vote in the several Electoral Districts after the adjustment: And the Holls so compiled shall be the Rolls for such Districts respectively under and for the purposes of the Elections Act; (vi.) 'rhe respective times for doing any act or thing for the aforesaid purposes shall be appointed by the Governor in Council by notification in the Gazette. EVIDENCE. 1 Geo. V. An Act to Make Better Provision for the Taking of No. 26. THE OFFICIAL Evidence at Official Inquiries. INQUIRIES EVIDENCE ACT OF 1910. r ASSEN1'ED 'fO 7TH JANUARY, 1911.] B E it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legis- lative Council and Legislative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament assembled, hnd by the authority of the same, as follows :- Short title. 1. This Act may be cited as " The Official Inquiries Ecidence Act of 1910." Interpreta· tion. 2. In this Act the term "Commission" means and includes any person or persons appointed by or under the authority of His Majesty or the Governor in Council to make any inquiry with f/'\spect to any matter. Power to send for witnesses and documents. 3. 'The President or Chairman of a Commission, whether appointed by the instrument creating the Com- mission or otherwise, or the sole Commissioner, as the case may be, may, by writing under 'his hand, summon any person to attend the Commission at a time and place named j ftp

EVIDENCE. 9659 1910. Official Inquiries Evidence Act. in the summons, and then and there to give evidence and to produce any books, document~ , or writings in his custody or control material to the subject-matter of the inquiry. 4. Any of the Commissioners may, under and subject Powe~ to to "The Oaths Acts, 1867 to Ib91,"* administer an oath ~~~~I&~.on to or take the affirmation or declaration of any person ' appearing as a witness before the Commission, whether the witness has been summoned or appears without being summoned. . 5. (1.) If any person served with a summons to Penalty for attend a Commission, whether the summons is served f~~ lin8 to personally or by being left at his usual place of abode, fails ~ r; : uc~ r without reasonable excuse to attend the Commission or to documents. produce any documents, books, or writings in his custody or control which he was required by the summons to produce, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds. (2.) If any person appearing as a witness before a Refusing to Commission refuses to be sworn or to make an affirmation be s,:,,"orn, &c., or d ec 1 aratI . On or to answer any questI . On pu t t 0 h l ' m b y any oevrigdievnece. of the Commissioners touching the subject-matter of the inquiry, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds: Provided that no such person shall be compelled to answer any question tending to incriminate himself. 6. (1.) Every such Commissioner shall, in the exer- Protection to eise of his duty as Commissioner, have the same protection C:ommis- an d I . mmum . ty as a J u d ge 0 f t h e S upreme C ourt. SlOners. ( ~ . ) Every witness summoned to attend or appearing Protection to before a Commission shall have the same protection and and ~ iability sha 11 , I ' II add"ltIon to t he pena 1 tI . eS provl' ded by th I ' S Act, be of wItnesses. subject to the same liabilities as a witness in any case tried in the Supreme Court. 7. The Governor in Council may make regulations Allowances to prescribing a scale of allowances to be paid to any witness witnesses. summoned under this Act for his travelling expenses and maintenance ·while absent from his usual place of abode. The claim to allowance of any such witness, certified by the President or Chairman of the Commission or by the sole Commissioner, as the case may be, shall be paid by the Treasurer out of moneys to be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose. .. 31 Vic. No. 12, supra, page 1670; 40 Vic. No. 10, supra, page 1677; 48 Vie. No. 19, supra, page 1678; and 55 Vie. No. 14, supra, page 4324.