STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 98.
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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 first day of May, 1917.
R. M. FERGUSON.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. M. HUGHES,
for Minister of State for Defence.
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War Precautions (Rabbit Skins) Regulations 1917.
Short title.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the War Precautions (Rabbit Skins) Regulations 1917.
Regulation of trade in rabbit skins.
2. The trades in rabbit skins shall be carried on as under normal conditions subject to the provisions contained in these Regulations.
Appointment of Government agents for purpose of Regulations.
3. (1) For the purposes of these Regulations the Prime Minister may appoint any person, firm, or company to be an Agent for the purchase of rabbit skins on behalf of the Government, and each such person firm, or company is in those Regulations referred to as a Government Agent.
(2) Before may person, firm, or company is appointed a Government Agent for the purposes of these Regulations, he or it shall be required to give a bond or undertaking in such form as the Prime Minister approves to secure his or its compliance with the Regulations.
Rabbit skin to be forwarded to Government Agents.
4. All rabbit skins shall, unless the Prime Minister otherwise directs, be forwarded to a Government Agent, who shall, subject to these Regulations, be authorized to purchase such skins on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.
Prices of rabbit skins.
5. (1) Prices to be paid by Government Agents for rabbit skins delivered at their stores shall be on the basis of the following prices:—
(a) First Winters and Supers, 20d. net per lb.
(b) Second Winters and First Incomings, 18d. net per lb.
(c) Second Incomings, Outgoings, and Boardy, 16d. net per lb.
(d) Racks and Half-growns, 14d. net per lb.
(e) Does, 13d. net per lb.
(f) Kittens, 10d. net per lb.
(g) Damaged, 9d. net per lb.
(h) Butchers’ Skins, 3d per lb. less in each grade.
(i) Rabbit skins with heads, 2d. per lb. less in each grade.
C.5402.—Price 3d.
(2) The terms specified in the last preceding sub-regulation shall have respectively the meanings which they have in usual conditions of trade.
(3) Each Government Agent shall be provided by the Commonwealth Government with a set of samples.
(4) Such samples shall be marked, in an approved manner, and shall be retained by the Agent for purposes of reference, and produced in the event of any dispute as to the grade of any particular skin.
Settlement of disputes as to grade of rabbit skins.
6. (1) In the event of any dispute as to the grade of a rabbit skin the dispute shall be settled by an umpire appointed by the Commonwealth Government.
(2) The decision of the umpire shall be final.
Purchase of skins by Government Agent.
7. (1) Each Government Agent shall be responsible for paying only the price fixed for the grade to which the skin belongs.
(2) Any Government Agent who knowingly pays for a rabbit skin a price higher than the price fixed for the grade to which the rabbit skin properly belongs shall, in addition to any other liability under these Regulations, be guilty of an offence.
(3) The Commonwealth Government will undertake to guarantee any Government Agent against loss in respect of the purchase of skins by him on behalf of the Commonwealth Government so long as such loss is not attributable to the Agent paying a higher price than that specified for the particular grade to which the rabbit skin belongs.
Responsibility of Government Agent for safe custody.
8. Each Government Agent shall be responsible for the safe custody of all skins purchased by him or on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.
Disposal of skins purchased by Government Agent.
9. (1) Rabbit skins purchased by Government Agents shall be disposed of as follows:—
(a) Local manufacturers, upon proof to the satisfaction of the officer thereto authorized by the Prime Minister of their requirements, shall be entitled to supplies to meet those requirements.
(b) The remainder of the rabbit skins shall be disposed of by public auction or otherwise on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.
Remuneration of Government Agents.
10. (1) The remuneration to the Government Agents appointed under these Regulations shall be as follows:—
(a) In respect of the purchase of rabbit skins by them—Two and one-half per cent. commission on purchase prices; and
(b) In respect of the disposal of rabbit skins by them—Two and one-half per cent. on the prices realized.
(2) In addition, the Government Agent shall be entitled to charge and retain the amount usually paid in respect of the delivery of rabbit skins, and such amount shall be payable by the buyer of the skins.
Periodical returns to be furnished by Government Agent.
11. Each Government Agent shall account weekly, or at such other intervals as are specified by the Prime Minister, to the Commonwealth Government for all moneys received by him, less commission and delivery charges, which he is entitled under these Regulations to charge and retain.
Permit to be indorsed by officer.
12. Permits for the exportation of rabbit skins from the Commonwealth shall be indorsed in an approved manner by an officer authorized by the Prime Minister.
Government Agent to keep books and documents.
13. Each Government Agent appointed under these Regulations shall keep such books and documents as the Prime Minister directs, and shall produce those books and documents for the purposes of audit to any officer authorized by the Prime Minister.
Repeal.
14. The War Precautions (Rabbit Skins) Regulations 1916 (Statutory Rules 1916, No. 138) are hereby repealed.
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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.