Prune Bounty Act 1936

Overview

The Prune Bounty Act 1936 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide financial incentives for the export of prunes from the Commonwealth. This legislation was introduced to address a specific economic need by encouraging the export of prunes, thus potentially boosting the agricultural sector and the national economy. The Act appropriates funds from the Consolidated Revenue for this purpose and outlines the terms under which a bounty is payable to the growers of prunes exported during the specified period. The bounty is to be paid at a rate of three farthings for each pound of prunes exported, contingent upon compliance with the relevant regulations. The Act also includes provisions to prevent fraudulent claims and mandates the submission of relevant documents and information by the growers to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. The policy objective of the Act is to support the export industry through direct financial incentives, thereby promoting economic growth in the agricultural sector.

Scope and Application

The Prune Bounty Act 1936 applies specifically to the export of prunes from the Commonwealth during the year 1935, and it provides for the payment of a bounty to the growers of prunes that meet certain criteria. The bounty is payable at a rate of three farthings per pound of prunes exported, provided that the prunes have been exported in compliance with the Commerce (General Exports) Regulations. The Act applies to individuals who are growers of prunes and to those who have exported the prunes, whether on behalf of the grower or otherwise. The bounty is payable to the grower of the fruit from which the prunes were produced, and payment is contingent upon the lodgement of an application with the Secretary of the Department of Commerce by a specified deadline. The Act also contains provisions for offences related to the fraudulent claim of bounty and for the Minister to call for information to ensure compliance. Any regulations made under this Act may include provisions for penalties not exceeding fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.

Key Provisions

The Prune Bounty Act 1936 (hereafter referred to as the Act) establishes a bounty payable on the export of prunes from the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act, which was assented to on 20 March 1936, provides for the payment of a bounty to the growers of prunes under specific conditions. The bounty is payable for prunes exported during the year 1935, provided that the relevant export regulations were adhered to (section 4). The bounty amount is set at three farthings per pound of prunes exported (section 5). The bounty is payable to the grower of the fruit from which the prunes were produced, subject to the conditions outlined in section 6. Under this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce of the Commonwealth is responsible for overseeing the bounty payments. The growers must apply for the bounty by lodging an application with the Secretary by 30 June 1936 to be eligible for the payment (section 7). The Act also imposes obligations on the parties it governs, such as the requirement to comply with the Commerce (General Exports) Regulations and provide accurate information and documentation when applying for the bounty. The Act includes provisions for offences and penalties for non-compliance. Specifically, it is an offence to obtain or attempt to obtain a bounty that is not payable, to do so by means of false or misleading statements, or to present false documents or make false statements to an officer or person involved in the administration of the Act (section 8). The penalty for such offences is a fine of up to one hundred pounds or imprisonment for up to one year. Additionally, the Minister or an authorised person may call upon any individual to furnish necessary books, documents, or information related to compliance with the Act or any suspected contraventions (section 9). Failure to comply with such a request without reasonable excuse is also an offence, with the same penalty as outlined above. The Minister may withhold bounty payments to claimants who fail to comply until the required information is provided. Lastly, the Act mandates that a report on its operation and a return detailing the amount of bounty paid and other specified particulars be prepared by September 1936 and laid before each House of Parliament within fifteen sitting days of 30 September 1936 (section 10). The Governor-General is authorised to make regulations not inconsistent with the Act, which may include penalties not exceeding fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months for any offence against the regulations (section 11).