Bounties Act 1907

Overview

The Bounties Act 1907 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for incentivising the production of specific goods within the country. The Act was designed to provide financial support to growers and producers through the payment of bounties, thus encouraging the cultivation and manufacturing of certain products deemed beneficial for the national economy. The Act appropriates a sum of Three hundred and thirty-nine thousand pounds to be disbursed over fifteen years, beginning from July 1, 1907. This funding is intended to cover the payment of bounties on the production of various goods, such as cotton, flax, hemp, jute, sisal hemp, oil materials, rice, rubber, coffee, tobacco, fish, fruits, and combed wool or tops, as specified in the schedules of the Act. The policy objective of the Bounties Act 1907 is to stimulate the domestic production of quality goods by providing financial incentives, thereby promoting economic growth and self-sufficiency in the early years of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Scope and Application

The Bounties Act 1907 applies to the payment of bounties on the production of specified goods in Australia. The Act provides for the appropriation of funds for the payment of these bounties over a period of fifteen years, starting from the first day of July 1907. The bounties are to be paid to the growers or producers of certain goods, provided these goods meet specific criteria such as being of merchantable quality, produced in a prescribed quantity and under prescribed conditions, and produced by white labour only. The bounty rates and maximum annual payments for each good are detailed in the First Schedule. The Act also specifies that the bounties are not to be paid to manufacturers unless the goods are fish preserved as prescribed, fruit dried or candied, or combed wool or tops. Additionally, the Act sets out penalties for offences such as obtaining a bounty through false statements or aiding and abetting such offences. The Governor-General has the authority to make regulations to give effect to the Act, including those prescribing minimum quantities, proportions of bounty payments, and the manner of determining market value.

Key Provisions

The Bounties Act 1907 (sections 1-3) establishes a framework for the payment of bounties on the production of specified goods in Australia. The Act authorises the appropriation of a total of £339,000 to be paid out over a period of fifteen years, starting from 1 July 1907. Bounties are to be paid on the production of certain goods as outlined in the First Schedule, which includes cotton, flax, hemp, jute, sisal hemp, oil materials, rice, rubber, coffee, tobacco, fish, dried fruit, and combed wool or tops. The Act stipulates that these bounties are payable only to the actual growers or producers of the goods, with certain exceptions for manufacturers of fish, dried or candied fruit, and combed wool or tops. The Act also details the rates of bounty, the maximum annual amounts that can be paid for each type of good, and the specific periods during which these bounties can be claimed. The Bounties Act 1907 imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, the goods for which a bounty is claimed must meet specific quality and production criteria (section 4). These include being of merchantable quality, produced in the prescribed quantities and conditions, and exclusively by white labour. The Act also mandates that producers must disclose the rates of wages paid to their employees, and the Minister has the authority to withhold all or part of the bounty if these rates are found to be below the standard rates for the area (section 6). Furthermore, the owner, occupier, or lessee of any land or factory where the goods are grown or produced is deemed to be involved in the production unless otherwise directed by the Minister (section 5). The Bounties Act 1907 includes provisions for penalties and consequences for breaches of the Act. It is an offence to obtain a bounty that is not payable, to do so through false or misleading statements, or to present false documents or make false statements to an officer or other person involved in the administration of the Act (section 7). The penalty for these offences is a fine of up to £100 or imprisonment for up to twelve months. Additionally, anyone who aids, abets, counsels, or procures the commission of any offence under the Act, or is in any way knowingly involved in such an offence, is deemed to have committed the offence and is subject to the same penalties (section 8). The Governor-General is empowered to make regulations to further enforce the provisions of the Act, ensuring compliance and the effective administration of the bounty scheme.