STATUTORY RULES.
1918. No. 80.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT 1914-1916.
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 War Precautions Act 1914-1916 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this 26th day of March, 1918.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
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War Precautions (Flax) Regulations.
Short title.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the War Precautions (Flax) Regulations 1918.
Commonwealth flax industry committee.
2. (1) For the purpose of developing and controlling the flax industry the Prime Minister may appoint a Commonwealth Flax Industry Committee (in these Regulations referred to as “the Committee”).
(2) The Committee shall consist of one representative to be nominated by the Commonwealth Advisory Council of Science and Industry, one representative of the flax-growers, and one agricultural expert.
(3) The nomination of any member of the Committee shall be subject to the approval of the Prime Minister.
(4) The representative of the Commonwealth Advisory Council of Science and Industry shall be the chairman of the Committee.
Quorum.
3. Two members of the Committee shall be sufficient to form a quorum of the Committee.
Chairman to have casting vote.
4. At meetings of the Committee the Chairman shall have a deliberative vote, and also, in the event of an equality of votes, a casting vote.
Executive officers of the committee.
5. All appointments of executive officers of the Committee shall be subject to the approval of the Prime Minister.
Powers and functions of the committee.
6. In addition to the powers elsewhere in these Regulations conferred on the Committee, the powers and functions of the Committee shall be—
(a) to collect particulars of stocks of flax seed in Australia;
(b) to determine the price at which flax seed may be sold, and to acquire such seed at the price fixed;
(c) to take steps to encourage the extension of the area of land in which flax is cultivated;
(d) to arrange for the sale and distribution of flax seed to farmers;
(e) to appraise the value of green flax grown during the year 1918;
(f) to take such steps as it considers necessary to secure an adequate supply of flax seed for sowing in future seasons;
(g) to inquire into and report to the Prime Minister upon the steps necessary to provide adequate facilities for the treatment of green flax;
(h) to determine the quantity of flax fibre which shall be exported and the quantity which shall be retained for use in the Commonwealth.
C.4493.—Price 3d.
Licences for sale of flax seed.
7. No person, firm or company shall sell or otherwise dispose of Victorian-grown flax seed except in accordance with a licence granted by the Committee.
Green flax to be forwarded to committee.
8. All green flax grown from Victorian or other approved seed during the year 1918, shall, unless the Prime Minister otherwise directs, be forwarded to the Committee or to such persons and to such places as the Committee directs, and the Committee shall, subject to these Regulations, be authorized to purchase such flax on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.
Acquisition of mills.
9. The Committee may, subject to the approval of the Prime Minister, acquire or erect such mills as it deems necessary for the treatment of flax purchased in pursuance of these Regulations.
Price of flax.
10. (1) Subject to this regulation, the price to be paid by the Committee to the grower in respect of flax purchased in pursuance of these Regulations shall be—
(a) in respect of flax of an average length of thirty inches, £5 per ton; and
(b) in respect of flax of a greater or less average length than thirty inches, such amount, fixed pro ratâ upon the price specified in the last preceding paragraph, having regard to the length of the flax, as the Committee determines.
(2) The amounts realized on the sale of the products from green flax purchased under these Regulations shall, subject to deductions to meet—
(a) the prices paid under sub-regulation (1) of this regulation,
(b) the cost incurred by the Committee in treating the flax, and
(c) the expenses of the Committee in developing and controlling the industry,
be dealt with in such manner as the Prime Minister, upon the recommendation of the Committee, determines: Provided that nothing in this (regulation shall be deemed to authorize the reduction of the price of green flax of an average length of thirty inches below £5 per ton.
Returns to be furnished.
11. (1) Any person who has in his possession or under his control a quantity of flax seed in excess of two hundredweights shall, within seven days from the date of the commencement of these Regulations, furnish to the Committee a return showing the description and particulars of the quantity of such flax seed and the place at which it is stored.
(2) Each return shall be accompanied by a statutory declaration as to the accuracy of the information contained therein.
Power to requisition flax seed.
12. (1) The Committee or any person duly authorized in that behalf by the Committee may requisition any flax seed.
(2) The compensation payable to the owner of any flax seed requisitioned in pursuance of this regulation shall, in default of agreement, be assessed upon such basis as the Committee determines.
Delivery of requisitioned flax seed.
13. The Committee, or any person duly authorized in that behalf by the Committee, may, by notice in writing served on the person, firm or company, require any person, firm or company who or which has in his or its possession or under his or its control any flax seed, to permit any other person, firm or company specified in the notice, upon payment or tender of the price specified in the notice, to take delivery of such flax seed at any reasonable hour in the day time.
Offences.
14. Any person who fails to comply with any requisition or requirement made in pursuance of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.
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