TRACTOR BOUNTY.
No. 73 of 1947.
An Act to amend the Tractor Bounty Act 1939–1944.
[Assented to 4th December, 1947.]
BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—
Short title and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Tractor Bounty Act 1947.
(2.) The Tractor Bounty Act 1939–1944 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Tractor Bounty Act 1939–1947.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the twenty-fourth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven.
Limit of annual bounty.
3. Section four of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-section:—
“(1.) The total amount of bounty payable under this Act shall be—
(a) in respect of tractors produced during the financial year which commenced on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven—Eighty thousand pounds;
(b) in respect of tractors produced during the financial year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight—Two hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds;
(c) in respect of tractors produced during the financial year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-nine—Three hundred thousand pounds; and
(d) in respect of tractors produced during the period commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and fifty and ending on the twenty-third day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fifty—One hundred thousand pounds.”.
Specification of bounty.
4. Section six of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the word “eight” and inserting in its stead the word “eleven”.
Rates of bounty.
5. Section seven of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in the table contained in sub-section (1.), after the word and figures “Exceeding 35”, the words and figures “but not exceeding 60”.
Overview
The Tractor Bounty Act 1947 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to amend the existing Tractor Bounty Act 1939–1944, providing an appropriation of funds for the bounty scheme. This Act came into operation on 24 October 1947 and primarily revises the total amount of bounty payable for tractors produced during specific financial years, setting new limits for the bounty in subsequent years. The 1947 Act also adjusts the bounty rate for tractors, and modifies the specification and rate details as previously outlined in the Principal Act. The policy objective of this amendment is to provide financial incentives for the production of tractors in Australia during a period of post-war recovery and agricultural development.
Scope and Application
The Tractor Bounty Act 1947 applies to entities and individuals involved in the production and distribution of tractors within the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby amending the Tractor Bounty Act 1939–1944. The Act sets specific limits and specifications for the bounty payable for tractors produced during particular financial years, with the bounty amounts varying from eighty thousand pounds for the financial year commencing July 1947 to one hundred thousand pounds for the period ending October 1950. Additionally, the Act adjusts the bounty rates by modifying the Principal Act’s provisions, particularly by specifying new bounty amounts and altering the rates of bounty for tractors of certain capacities. This legislation, which came into operation on 24 October 1947, also facilitates adjustments through subordinate instruments to further refine the application of the bounty provisions.
Key Provisions
The Tractor Bounty Act 1947 makes significant amendments to the Tractor Bounty Act 1939–1944, particularly focusing on the financial limits and specifications of the bounty provided for tractor production. Section 3 of the Act replaces the previous sub-section (1.) of Section four in the Principal Act, setting new limits for the total amount of bounty payable for tractors produced in specific financial years. Specifically, it stipulates that for tractors produced during the financial year commencing on 1 July 1947, the bounty will be £80,000; for those produced during the financial year commencing on 1 July 1948, the bounty will be £225,000; for tractors produced during the financial year commencing on 1 July 1949, the bounty will be £300,000; and for tractors produced between 1 July 1950 and 23 October 1950, the bounty will be £100,000 (Section 3(1.)). Additionally, Section 4 of the Act modifies Section six of the Principal Act by changing the bounty specification from “eight” to “eleven” (Section 4). This change indicates a higher bounty rate for certain tractor specifications.
The Act imposes several obligations on the entities it governs. Firstly, it requires that the specified bounty limits be adhered to for each financial year as outlined. Furthermore, manufacturers must meet the new specifications outlined in Section 4, ensuring their tractors qualify for the amended bounty rates (Sections 3 and 4). The entities involved must also ensure that they apply for the bounty within the designated time frames and comply with any additional conditions stipulated by the Act.
Breaches of the provisions set forth in the Tractor Bounty Act 1947 may lead to civil or criminal consequences. Although the Act does not explicitly state the penalties for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that penalties could be imposed under general legislative principles for failure to comply with such statutory requirements. This could include fines, legal action, or other forms of redress depending on the severity and nature of the breach. The maximum penalties, however, are not specified within the text of the Act itself.