STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 50.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905.
I, 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 Census and Statistics Act 1905 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated the 25th day of March, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.
(Sgd.) R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
E. J. RUSSELL,
For Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Statistics Regulations.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Statistics (Commodity) Regulations 1915.
2. In addition to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) to (k) in section 16 of the Act, and in paragraph 18 of the Statistics Regulations 1913, the Statistician shall, subject to that section, collect statistics in relation to the following matters:—
(i) Foodstuffs for man and beast
(ii) Commodities.
(iii) Trade.
(iv) Industry.
3. Every person who has in his possession or custody a quantity of any commodity, specified from time to time by Order in Council published in the Gazette, greater than the quantity specified opposite thereto in such Order in Council shall from time to time when required by the Statistician so to do, and within such time or times as he may be required by the Statistician so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in the Order in Council.
4. In order to comply with this Regulation, every such person shall fill in the required particulars, in the place provided for that purpose, in the form specified from time to time by Order in Council, and shall sign the form and transmit it to the Statistician in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying the form.
5. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in Part 8 of the Statistics Regulations 1913, no person who is required to furnish a return or form to the Statistician under this Regulation shall be exempted from any penalty he may have incurred by failure to do so by reason of his not having received personal notice to furnish the return, or by reason of his not having been supplied with a form of return; but every such person shall himself obtain all copies of forms which he is required to fill in and transmit to the Statistician.
6. The Provisional Regulations dated 14th December, 1914, Statutory Rules 1914, No. 185, are repealed.
_____________________________________________________________________________
(a) Made under Census and Statistics Act 1905 on 25th March, 1915; these Regulations supersede the Provisional Regulations (S.R. 1914, No. 185) which are contained in Commonwealth Statutory Rules 1901–1914, Vol. I., p. 204.
C.3314.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statistics (Commodity) Regulations 1915 were enacted to enhance the collection of statistical data under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, thereby addressing the need for comprehensive economic and trade statistics during a period of significant national development. Made under the authority of the Governor-General in Council, these regulations aimed to streamline the process of gathering detailed information on commodities, foodstuffs, trade, and industry, ensuring that the Statistician had the necessary data to inform policy decisions and economic planning. The regulations mandate that individuals in possession of specified quantities of commodities must provide detailed information to the Statistician, reinforcing the requirement for compliance to prevent penalties.
These regulations, established to come into operation immediately, were designed to address a gap in the systematic collection of economic data, ensuring that the government could effectively monitor and respond to economic conditions and needs. The policy objective was to facilitate the accurate and efficient collection of economic statistics, thereby supporting informed decision-making and the development of robust economic policies. The regulations replaced the Provisional Regulations of 1914, reflecting a structured approach to statistical data collection in response to the evolving economic landscape of the time.
Scope and Application
The Statistics (Commodity) Regulations 1915 apply to all individuals and entities possessing specified quantities of commodities as determined by Orders in Council published in the Commonwealth Gazette. These regulations are instrumental in ensuring the collection of detailed statistics regarding foodstuffs for human and animal consumption, commodities, trade, and industry. They mandate that anyone holding more than the specified quantity of a designated commodity, as outlined in the Orders in Council, must furnish particulars to the Statistician as required. This requirement applies irrespective of whether the individual has received personal notice or a form to complete the statistics. The Regulations extend across the Commonwealth of Australia, reflecting the federal jurisdiction of the Census and Statistics Act 1905 under which they are made. The Regulations also clarify that no exemptions from penalties for non-compliance apply if the failure to furnish a return or form is due to the individual not receiving personal notice or a form, emphasising personal responsibility in compliance. These Regulations effectively repeal the Provisional Regulations of 1914, thus updating the legal framework for statistical data collection in the context of commodities.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Statistics (Commodity) Regulations 1915, under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, include the collection of specific data. Regulation 2 extends the range of statistics that the Statistician must collect to include foodstuffs for man and beast, commodities, trade, and industry. This is in addition to the existing requirements specified in section 16 of the Act and paragraph 18 of the Statistics Regulations 1913. Regulation 3 mandates that any person holding a specified quantity of a commodity greater than what is stipulated by an Order in Council must provide the Statistician with particulars of this commodity when required. Regulation 4 outlines the specific form and method by which these particulars must be furnished to the Statistician, including the requirement to fill in the form as specified and sign and submit it as instructed. Regulation 5 clarifies that failure to comply with the requirement to provide these particulars will not exempt a person from penalties, and they must obtain the required forms themselves.
The obligations imposed by these Regulations on the parties they govern include the timely and accurate submission of data to the Statistician. Persons who possess quantities of specified commodities exceeding the threshold set by an Order in Council must ensure they furnish the required particulars in the prescribed form and manner. This involves not only the collection and provision of the necessary information but also the proactive acquisition of the correct forms from the Statistician. Any failure to comply with these obligations, despite not receiving a personal notice or a form, will not relieve the individual from incurring penalties for non-compliance.
The Regulations also establish consequences for non-compliance. Regulation 5 explicitly states that a person who fails to provide the required particulars to the Statistician will not be exempted from penalties due to not receiving personal notice or a form. This means that individuals must take personal responsibility for obtaining and submitting the necessary information. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed within these Regulations but would be addressed under the provisions of the Census and Statistics Act 1905 or any related legislation. The emphasis on personal responsibility and the clear prohibition of exemptions from penalties underscores the importance of adherence to these data collection requirements.