Fruit Growers' Relief Act 1933

Overview

The Fruit Growers’ Relief Act 1933 was enacted to provide financial assistance to the States to help fruit growers who had experienced losses due to the export of apples and pears during the 1932-1933 season. This Act was assented to on 12th December 1933, and it was enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The policy objective was to offer relief to the necessitous fruit growers affected by the economic downturn of that period. The financial assistance was to be distributed to the respective states with a condition that the funds must be applied to benefit those growers who could demonstrate losses in the export of their fruit produce during the specified season.

Scope and Application

The Fruit Growers’ Relief Act 1933 applies to growers of apples and pears, providing them with financial assistance through the states they reside in. The Act grants specific amounts of money to each state, which are to be distributed to necessitous fruit growers who have suffered losses in the export of their produce during the 1932-1933 season. This legislation is geographically applicable to all states within the Commonwealth of Australia, as it provides financial assistance to each state based on their need, thereby allowing for tailored support across the country. The Act does not specify any exclusions or exemptions from its application, nor does it mention any thresholds that need to be met beyond the specified financial assistance for each state. The Act may extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments, which are not explicitly detailed in the primary text of the Act itself.

Key Provisions

The Fruit Growers’ Relief Act 1933 primarily focuses on the financial assistance provided to States to support fruit growers, particularly those who have experienced losses in the export of apples or pears during the 1932-1933 season. Section 3 specifies the amounts allocated to each state: New South Wales (£8,225), Victoria (£36,321), Queensland (£478), South Australia (£5,258), Western Australia (£10,918), and Tasmania (£63,800). These allocations are intended to be used by the respective states for the benefit of necessitous fruit growers who can demonstrate such losses. The Act imposes specific obligations on the states receiving these funds. According to Section 4, the money granted to each state must be applied towards the benefit and assistance of fruit growers who have suffered losses in the export of their produce. This application of funds must be administered through an authority nominated by the state, which is responsible for verifying the eligibility of the fruit growers based on their reported losses during the specified season. In terms of consequences for non-compliance or misuse of the funds, the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil or criminal consequences for breach. However, given the statutory nature of the Act and the specified conditions for the use of funds, any misuse or diversion of the financial assistance from its intended purpose could potentially lead to legal scrutiny or administrative action. The lack of explicit penalties in the text may suggest reliance on broader legal frameworks for enforcement, such as the Public Trust Office or state-specific legislation governing the misuse of public funds.