SECRET COMMISSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 15 February 1907, Page 4

SECRET COMMISSIONS.

AX AUSTRALIAN ACT UN THE SUBJECT. Apropos the Miami Jury's present nient on Tuesday last concerning ret coiiiini<s:oi].s, thi' manager of an important trading linn in Wellington recently received the following ijues tion from the manager of Uie Australian lions': "Will you pease state if there is any prospect of such an Act (as tlie Secret Commissions Act) being given ell'oet to in New Zealand The writer adds: "It has bei-n found that the introduction of this Act has been beneficial to our trading so far as Australia is concerned.*' A copy of the Secret Connni-s : ons Act. winch was passed by tlw l-'ed.'r in Parliament in 11UI3, was enclosed jin the fetter from Australia abo\o referred to. The Act relates to secret commissions, rebates, and profits, ami applies to trade and , with other countries and among tie States, and to agencies of ami contracts with the Commonwealth or any department or ollicial (hereof. .hie measure provides against smet g.lu> being accepted by or oil', r.d to a; y agent a* an inducement or lcu.iri, against false accounts beii.g giv.-n 1o or received or ined by any ag« i nt. and against an agent se-ivilv imymg fiviu or seling to himself. two of clause four reads: "A gut of consideration s-iiall be deemed to be given as an inducement or a reward if the rece.pt or any exp. i-iatioii thereof wo ld be in any way jikHy lo influence the agent lo do.or to k-u\c undone something contrary to h.s du ty." Tne penalties provided aiv a iiue of JIIOOO for a convicted corporation. or in the case of any other person two yea's' imprisonment, or a line of or !botli. Whoever ai<ls, ; abets, counsels, or proem cs. or is in any way directly or indirectly know ingly concerned with a breach of the Act shall lie deemed to have committed the oil'ence, and be punished accordingly.