Citrus Fruits Bounty Act 1937

Legislation au C1937A00038 Not in force Act

Select Document

CITRUS FRUITS BOUNTY.

No. 38 of 1937.

An Act to provide for the Payment of a Bounty on the Export of Citrus Fruits from the Commonwealth during the year One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven.

[Assented to 16th September, 1937.]

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 Citrus Fruits Bounty Act 1937.

Definitions.

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

“bounty” means bounty under this Act;

“citrus fruits” means oranges, lemons, grape-fruit or mandarins;

“export case” means any case of the dimensions prescribed in the Schedule to this Act.

Bounty to be paid.

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

Specifications of bounty.

4. The bounty shall be payable in respect of citrus fruits exported from the Commonwealth to destinations other than New Zealand during the year One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven in respect of which export permits have been issued under the regulations for the time being in force made under the Customs Act 1901–1936 and the Commerce (Trade Descriptions ) Act 1905–1933 relating to the exportation of citrus fruits:

Provided that the bounty shall not be payable in respect of—

(a) navel oranges exported from the Commonwealth to the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe after the thirty-first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven;

(b) navel oranges exported from the Commonwealth to any destination, other than the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe, after the thirty-first day of August, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven;

(c) oranges described as “Plain” within the meaning of the regulations for the time being in force made under the Customs Act 1901–1936 and the Commerce (Trade Descriptions ) Act 1905–1933 relating to the exportation, of citrus fruits; and

(d) citrus fruits exported as gifts.

Rate of bounty

5. Bounty shall be payable for each export case of citrus fruits at the rates specified in the Schedule to this Act.

Payee of bounty.

6.—(1.) The bounty shall, subject to this section, be payable to the exporter of the citrus fruits.

(2.) The exporter of the citrus fruits shall pay to the grower of the citrus fruits the amount of the bounty received by him in respect of the citrus fruits, unless he proves to the satisfaction of the Minister that he purchased or otherwise acquired the citrus fruits from the grower or his agent and that the payment, if any, made to the grower or his agent for the citrus fruits included an amount which represents the bounty paid in respect of the citrus fruits.

Penalty: One hundred pounds.

(3.) Where the grower of the citrus fruits exports the citrus fruits through an agent, the bounty may be paid to the agent, who shall be liable to pay the amount thereof as a debt due from him to the grower.

Condition of payment.

7. A payment of bounty shall not be made under this Act unless the claimant for that bounty has, in accordance with the regulations, lodged an application therefor on or before the thirty-first day of March, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight:

Provided that where the Minister is satisfied that the circumstances of any case justify the payment of bounty where the claimant has lodged an application after that date, payment of bounty may be made in respect of that application.

Offences.

8. A person shall not—

(a) obtain or attempt to obtain payment of any bounty which is not payable;

(b) obtain or attempt to 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 one year.

Power to call for Information.

9.—(1.) The Minister, or any person thereto authorized in writing by him, may, by notice in writing, call upon any person to furnish to him within such time as is specified in the notice, such books and

documents and such information as the Minister or that authorized person thinks necessary in relation to compliance with this Act or the regulations made thereunder or any suspected contravention thereof.

(2.) A person shall not, without reasonable excuse (proof whereof shall lie upon him) fail, after receipt of a notice under the last preceding sub-section, to comply with the requirements of the notice.

Penalty: One hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year.

(3.) Where any person who has so failed to furnish the books, documents or information is a claimant for bounty, the Minister may, if he thinks fit, withhold payment of any bounty payable to the claimant until he has furnished the required books, documents or information.

Return to be laid before Parliament.

10. A report upon the working of this Act, and a return setting forth—

(a) the amount of bounty paid under this Act; and

(b) such other particulars as are prescribed,

shall be prepared in the month of November, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, and shall be laid before each House of the Parliament within fifteen sitting days of that House after the thirtieth day of November, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight.

Regulations.

11. 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 offence against the regulations.

THE SCHEDULE. Section 5.

Description of expert case.	Inside measurement of export case in inches.			Kind of citrus fruits for which export case shall be used.	Rate of bounty per export case.
Description of expert case.	Length.	Depth.	Width.	Kind of citrus fruits for which export case shall be used.	Rate of bounty per export case.
Orange case.......	24	11½	11½	Oranges or grape fruit	Two shillings
Lemon case.......	25	10	13	Lemons...........	Two shillings
Australian bushel case..	18	14¼	8⅔–9	Oranges, lemons, grape fruit or mandarins	One shilling and four-pence
Standard bushel case.....	18	10½	11½	Oranges, lemons, grape fruit or mandarins	One shilling and four-pence
Half Lemon case....	25	5	13	Lemons or mandarins..	One shilling

Overview

The Citrus Fruits Bounty Act 1937 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide for the payment of a bounty on the export of citrus fruits from Australia during the year 1937. The Act was designed to address a specific economic issue by incentivising the export of citrus fruits to certain markets, thereby supporting the agricultural sector during a period of economic difficulty. The policy objective was to encourage the export of citrus fruits to destinations outside of New Zealand, with the bounty payable only for certain types of citrus fruits and subject to specific export conditions and dates. The bounty was intended to be paid to the exporter, who was then required to pass it on to the grower, unless they could prove they had acquired the fruits directly from the grower or their agent. The Act also established penalties for offences such as obtaining a bounty through false statements or failing to comply with regulatory requirements. Furthermore, it provided the Minister with the authority to request information and documents from claimants to ensure compliance with the Act. A report on the Act's operation was to be prepared and presented to Parliament, ensuring transparency and accountability in the administration of the bounty scheme. The Act included detailed specifications for the dimensions of export cases and the rates of bounty payable, which were outlined in a schedule attached to the Act.

Scope and Application

The Citrus Fruits Bounty Act 1937 applies to the export of citrus fruits from the Commonwealth of Australia during the year 1937, specifically targeting the export of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and mandarins to destinations outside New Zealand, excluding certain types of oranges and exports made as gifts. The Act provides for the payment of a bounty to eligible exporters, who must adhere to the export permit requirements under the Customs Act 1901–1936 and the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905–1933. The bounty is payable to the exporter, who is obligated to pass it on to the grower unless they can demonstrate that the bounty was included in the purchase price. The bounty rates vary based on the type of citrus fruit and the dimensions of the export case, as detailed in the Act's schedule. The Act also imposes penalties for obtaining bounties fraudulently or by providing false information, and it grants the Minister the authority to request compliance-related documents and information from claimants. The Act applies nationally across the Commonwealth, with regulations having the potential to further detail and refine its application.

Key Provisions

The Citrus Fruits Bounty Act 1937 (C1937A00038) provides for the payment of a bounty on the export of citrus fruits from the Commonwealth during the year 1937. The Act specifies that the bounty will be payable for each export case of citrus fruits, defined as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, or mandarins, exported to destinations other than New Zealand, subject to certain conditions (section 2). The bounty will be paid for exports that have export permits issued under the relevant regulations and excludes specific types of oranges, such as navel oranges exported after certain dates, "Plain" oranges, and citrus fruits exported as gifts (section 4). The rate of bounty is specified in the Schedule, with different rates for different types and sizes of export cases (section 5). Under the Act, the bounty must be paid to the exporter of the citrus fruits, who is required to pass the bounty amount to the grower of the citrus fruits, unless the exporter can prove that they purchased the fruits from the grower or their agent, with the bounty already included in the purchase price (section 6). The Act also stipulates that if the grower exports the fruits through an agent, the bounty may be paid to the agent, who is then liable to pay the amount as a debt to the grower (section 6). A payment of bounty will not be made unless the claimant has lodged an application on or before the specified date, although the Minister has discretion to make payments in exceptional circumstances (section 7). The Act sets out offences and penalties for breaches. It is an offence to obtain or attempt to obtain payment of a bounty that is not payable, to do so by means of any false or misleading statement, or to present any false document or statement to an officer or other person doing duty under the Act or the regulations (section 8). The penalty for these offences is a fine of one hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year (section 8). The Act also provides that the Minister or an authorised person may call for information and documents from any person, and failure to comply with such a notice is an offence with a penalty of one hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year (section 9). If a claimant for bounty fails to provide the required information, the Minister may withhold payment of the bounty until the information is furnished (section 9). The Act requires a report on its operation and a return detailing the bounty paid to be laid before Parliament (section 10). The Governor General has the power to make regulations under the Act, including prescribing penalties for offences against the regulations (section 11).

Area of Law: Commercial Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Offence Provisions; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

Legislation content

Overview

Scope and Application

Key Provisions

Legal classification tags

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions