STATUTORY RULES.
1920. No. 54.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ACT 1919.
I, SIR WILLIAM HILL IRVINE, Deputy of the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Commercial Activities Act 1919, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-fifth day of March, 1920.
W. H. IRVINE,
Deputy of the Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. MASSY GREENE,
Minister of State for Trade and Customs.
The Commercial Activities (Sugar) Regulations.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Commercial Activities (Sugar) Regulations.
2. For the purposes of sub-section (2) of section 7 of the Commercial Activities Act 1919, the prescribed price at which sugar of the grade knows as 1A may be sold is sixpence per pound, plus such sum as represents the cost incurred by the vendor in respect of the delivery of the sugar to him.
3. Any person who, without the consent in writing of the Treasurer, sells or offers for sale any such sugar at a greater price than the price fixed by the last preceding regulation, shall be guilty of an offence.
4. These Regulations do not authorize the sale, at a higher price than threepence halfpenny per pound, plus such sum as represents the cost incurred by the vendor in respect of the delivery of the sugar to him, of any sugar purchased from the Commonwealth, whether by the vendor or by any other person, on or before the date of the making of these Regulations.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Commercial Activities (Sugar) Regulations, 1920, were enacted under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia as statutory rules to provide regulatory oversight on the sale of sugar, specifically grade 1A. These regulations were introduced to address the need for price control mechanisms during a period of economic regulation. The regulations were made under the Commercial Activities Act 1919, which was enacted by the Australian Parliament to provide a legislative framework for controlling commercial activities that could affect the economy adversely. The policy objective was to maintain a stable market price for sugar, ensuring that it did not exceed a certain threshold without explicit authorisation from the Treasurer. The regulations were made with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and were signed by Sir William Irvine, the Deputy of the Governor-General, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.
Scope and Application
The Commercial Activities (Sugar) Regulations 1920, made under the Commercial Activities Act 1919, establish specific price controls for the sale of sugar of the grade known as 1A. These regulations apply to any individual or entity involved in the sale of this grade of sugar within the Commonwealth of Australia. The act sets a prescribed price for the sale of sugar at sixpence per pound, plus any costs associated with the delivery of the sugar. It is explicitly stated that selling or offering for sale sugar of this grade at a price exceeding the prescribed amount without the written consent of the Treasurer constitutes an offence. Additionally, the regulations limit the sale of sugar purchased from the Commonwealth to a maximum price of threepence halfpenny per pound, plus delivery costs, prior to the regulations' enactment date. These regulations provide a clear framework for the pricing of sugar within the defined scope and geographic jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, ensuring compliance and oversight of commercial activities related to sugar sales.
Key Provisions
The Commercial Activities (Sugar) Regulations (C1920L00054) lay out the prescribed price for the sale of sugar of grade 1A, set by section 2 of the Regulations, which is sixpence per pound plus the delivery costs. This regulation is directly connected to section 7(2) of the Commercial Activities Act 1919, ensuring that sugar of a specified grade is sold at a price determined by the government to maintain fair market conditions. Section 3 of the Regulations imposes a significant requirement on any person involved in the sale of sugar, stipulating that any sale or offer to sell sugar at a price higher than the prescribed amount is an offence, unless the seller has obtained written consent from the Treasurer. This provision is crucial in preventing price gouging and ensuring that the regulated price is adhered to by all parties involved.
These Regulations place a number of obligations on individuals and entities involved in the sale of sugar. Firstly, as per section 2, sellers must ensure that the price they charge for grade 1A sugar adheres to the specified price, which includes the cost of delivery. This means that any seller must calculate the total cost accurately and apply the prescribed price to avoid legal repercussions. Additionally, section 3 mandates that sellers must not sell or offer to sell sugar at a higher price without explicit written consent from the Treasurer. This requirement highlights the need for sellers to obtain necessary approvals before engaging in transactions that exceed the regulated price, thereby ensuring compliance with the legislative framework.
Section 3 of the Regulations also establishes the consequences for breaching the price regulations. Any person found to be selling or offering to sell grade 1A sugar at a price higher than the prescribed amount without the requisite written consent is guilty of an offence. While the specific penalties for this offence are not detailed in the Regulations themselves, it is reasonable to infer that penalties could include fines or other sanctions as prescribed by the Commercial Activities Act 1919 or related legislation. The gravity of the offence underscores the importance of adhering to the price regulations to avoid legal penalties and maintain market integrity.