Sugar Bounty Act 1913

Overview

The Sugar Bounty Act 1913 was enacted to provide financial incentives to growers of sugar cane and sugar beet within the Commonwealth. It was introduced to address the need for supporting sugar cane and beet growers, ensuring their economic stability and promoting the growth of these crops. The Act was passed by the Australian Parliament with the objective of appropriating funds from the Consolidated Revenue to support these growers through a bounty system. The bounty is payable at specific rates, contingent on compliance with the regulations set forth in the Act, and is designed to replace the provisions of the previous Sugar Bounty Act 1905-1912 which had been repealed. The Act aims to ensure continuity in support for the sugar industry, thereby protecting the interests of growers and maintaining the production of sugar in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Sugar Bounty Act 1913 applies to all growers of white-grown sugar cane and beet within the Commonwealth of Australia. It provides for the payment of a bounty to these growers for cane or beet delivered for manufacture within specified periods. The Act mandates that the bounty is only payable if the grower complies with any relevant regulations, ensuring that the bounty is granted under conditions that align with those stipulated in the repealed Sugar Bounty Act 1905-1912. The bounty is calculated at a rate of two shillings and twopence per ton for cane and two shillings per ton for beet. The Act extends its application through subordinate instruments which may further define the regulations and conditions for bounty eligibility and payment. This ensures that the bounty is distributed fairly and in accordance with the objectives of the Act.

Key Provisions

The main provisions of the Sugar Bounty Act 1913 (sections 1-4) establish the legislative framework for the payment of a bounty to growers of sugar cane and beet within the Commonwealth. Section 1 provides for the citation of the Act as the Sugar Bounty Act 1913 and specifies that it shall come into operation on a date to be determined by proclamation. Section 2 outlines the payment of a bounty from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to growers of white-grown cane or beet for the delivery of their produce for manufacture, with specific time frames for the delivery of cane and beet. Section 3 stipulates that the bounty will not be payable to growers on cane or beet that, in the Minister's opinion, would not have qualified for bounty under the previous Sugar Bounty Act 1905-1912. Section 4 specifies the rates of bounty payable, at two shillings and twopence per ton for cane and two shillings per ton for beet. The Act imposes certain obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Growers of sugar cane or beet must deliver their produce within the specified time frames, as outlined in Section 2, to be eligible for the bounty. Section 3 further requires that the produce must comply with the conditions that would have applied under the previous Sugar Bounty Act 1905-1912 for bounty eligibility. The Minister's opinion, as stated in Section 3, serves as a determinant for the eligibility of the bounty, ensuring that only compliant produce is rewarded. The Act also provides for offences and penalties, though these are not explicitly detailed within the provided text. In general, breaches of legislative provisions can lead to civil or criminal consequences, with penalties varying according to the severity of the breach. For example, failure to comply with the stipulated delivery times or produce eligibility conditions could result in the denial of the bounty. Further provisions within the full Act or related legislation would detail specific penalties and the enforcement mechanisms available to address breaches of the Act.