Wheat Bounty Act 1931

Legislation au C1931A00048 Not in force Act

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WHEAT BOUNTY.

 

No. 48 of 1931.

An Act to provide for the payment of a Bounty on the Production of Wheat, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 4th November, 1931.]

Preamble.

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.

1. This Act may be cited as the Wheat Bounty Act 1931.

Repeal.

2. The Wheat Advances Act 1930 is repealed.

Definition.

3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“wheat” means wheat harvested in Australia during the period commencing on the first day of October One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one and ending on the thirty-first day of March One thousand nine hundred and thirty-two.

Specification of bounty.

4.—(1.) Bounty under this Act shall be payable on the production of wheat which has, on or after the first day of October One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one and prior to the commencement of this Act, been sold or delivered for sale, or which is sold or delivered for sale on or before the thirty-first day of October One thousand nine hundred and thirty-two or on or before such later date as is prescribed.

(2.) For the purposes of this Act wheat shall be deemed to have been delivered for sale if it is delivered by a grower to a flour miller, wheat merchant, Government instrumentality or co-operative organization for storage pending sale.


Rate of bounty.

5. The rate of bounty payable under this Act shall be four pence half-penny per bushel.

To whom bounty payable.

6. Bounty shall be payable in the prescribed manner to the grower of the wheat:

Provided that in the case of wheat produced by share-farmers, the bounty payable in respect of the wheat shall be apportioned between the share-farmers in proportion to the interests of the share-farmers in the wheat or the proceeds thereof.

Power to borrow money.

7.—(1.) The Treasurer may from time to time under the provisions of’ the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Act 1911-1927, or under the provisions of any Act authorizing the issue of Treasury Bills, borrow moneys to such amount as is necessary for the purposes of this Act.

(2.) Moneys borrowed under this Act shall be issued and applied only for the expenses of borrowing and of the administration of this Act, and for making payment of the bounty specified in this Act.

Offences against Act.

8. No person shall—

(a) obtain any bounty which is not payable;

(b) obtain payment of any bounty by means of any false or misleading statement; or

(c) present to any officer or other person doing duty in relation to this Act or the regulations made thereunder any document, or make to any such officer or person any statement, which is false in any particular.

Penalty: Five hundred pounds, or imprisonment for two years.

Power to call for information.

9.—(1.) The Minister, or any person thereto authorized in writing by him, may by notice in writing call upon any person to furnish to him, within such time as is specified in the notice, such books and documents and such information as the Minister or that authorized person thinks necessary in relation to compliance with this Act or the regulations made thereunder or any suspected contravention thereof.

(2.) Any person who, without reasonable excuse (proof whereof shall lie upon him), fails, after receipt of a notice under the last preceding sub-section, to comply with the requirements of the notice, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Five hundred pounds, or imprisonment for two years.

(3.) Where the person who has so failed to furnish the books, documents or information is a claimant for bounty, the Minister may, if he thinks fit, withhold payment of any bounty payable to the claimant until he has furnished the required books, documents or information.

Return to be laid before Parliament.

10. A report upon the working of this Act, and a return setting forth—

(a) the amount of bounty paid under this Act; and

(b) such other particulars as are prescribed,


shall be laid before both Houses of the Parliament by the Minister within thirty days after the expiration of the financial year ending on the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, if the Parliament is then sitting and, if not, then within thirty days after the next meeting of the Parliament.

Regulations.

11. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and in particular for prescribing penalties not exceeding Fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months for any breach of the regulations.

 

Overview

The Wheat Bounty Act 1931 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia with the primary objective of addressing economic difficulties faced by wheat producers during the Great Depression. This Act was introduced to provide financial support to wheat growers through a bounty payment system, encouraging wheat production in the specified period from 1 October 1931 to 31 March 1932. The Act repealed the Wheat Advances Act 1930 and established a bounty of four pence half-penny per bushel on wheat produced and sold within the designated period. The bounty is to be paid to the wheat growers, with provisions for share-farmers to receive their proportionate share. The Treasurer is authorised to borrow funds necessary for the administration and payment of the bounty, and there are penalties for offences against the Act, including fines and imprisonment. Additionally, the Minister has the authority to request information to ensure compliance with the Act, and the Minister is required to report on the Act's operations and bounty payments to Parliament annually.

Scope and Application

The Wheat Bounty Act 1931 applies to individuals and entities engaged in the production and sale of wheat in Australia, specifically focusing on wheat harvested during the period from 1 October 1931 to 31 March 1932. The bounty is payable to the grower of the wheat, with specific provisions for share-farmers who must apportion the bounty according to their interests in the wheat or its proceeds. The Act allows the Treasurer to borrow necessary funds for its purposes, which are limited to the expenses of borrowing, administration, and the payment of the bounty. It also outlines penalties for obtaining bounties through false or misleading means, with significant fines and imprisonment for violations. Additionally, the Minister has the authority to request information from relevant parties to ensure compliance with the Act, and failure to comply without reasonable excuse is subject to penalties. The Act also mandates that a report on its workings and a return detailing the bounty payments be presented to Parliament annually.

Key Provisions

The Wheat Bounty Act 1931 (section 1) establishes the legal framework for providing a bounty on the production of wheat harvested in Australia between 1 October 1931 and 31 March 1932. This Act repeals the Wheat Advances Act 1930 (section 2) and defines "wheat" as any wheat harvested within the specified period (section 3). The bounty is payable for wheat that has been sold or delivered for sale before 31 October 1932 or any later date prescribed (section 4). The bounty amount is set at four pence half-penny per bushel (section 5), and it is payable to the grower of the wheat, with any share-farmers' bounty being apportioned according to their interests in the wheat or proceeds (section 6). The Treasurer is authorised to borrow necessary funds under the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Act 1911-1927 or the Treasury Bills Act for the purposes of this Act (section 7). The Wheat Bounty Act 1931 imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Growers of wheat must ensure that they meet the criteria for bounty eligibility, including delivering wheat within the specified period (section 4). They must also provide accurate information and documents when claiming the bounty and comply with any requests for information from the Minister or authorised persons (section 9). The Minister or authorised persons have the authority to request books, documents, and information necessary for compliance with the Act or regulations (section 9). Failure to provide the requested information without reasonable excuse may result in the withholding of bounty payments and potential penalties (section 9). The Wheat Bounty Act 1931 sets out various offences and penalties for breaches of the Act. It is an offence to obtain a bounty that is not payable, to obtain payment by means of false or misleading statements, or to present false documents or statements to officers or persons involved in the administration of the Act or regulations (section 8). The penalty for such offences is a fine of up to five hundred pounds or imprisonment for up to two years (section 8). Additionally, failure to comply with a notice to furnish books, documents, or information may result in a penalty of up to five hundred pounds or imprisonment for up to two years (section 9). The Governor-General may also make regulations with penalties not exceeding fifty pounds or imprisonment for up to three months for any breach of these regulations (section 11).

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.