THE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS ACT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12640, 30 October 1905, Page 7

THE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS ACT.

(Government Memo.) A Bill intituled an Act to Regulate and Control the Manufacture of Certain Agricultural Implements Within New Zealand, and the Importation of the Same Implements from Foreign Countries. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the game as follows: — 1. The short title of this Act is—" The Agricultural Implement Manufacture Importation and Sale Act, 1905." 2. In this Act, if not inconsistent with <t(he ocmtext, " Commissioiner " means the Commissioner of Trade and Customs; " implement" means the implements, machines and. appliances specified in the schedule hereto. 3. (1) As soon as practicable after t!he passing of this Act the Commissioner shall cause to 'be compiled a statement showing in the case of each implementits description, nature, and quality of the materials used in its construction kand the price current on the passing of this Act; (2) such statement shall be published in the "G-azette." 4. On complaint to the Commissioner by any manufacturer in New Zealand of aaiy implement that the price of any impleimcn't on importation into New Zealand bas (been materially reduced, and that competition on unfair lines is being carried on by importers of implements from foreign co-untaves, he shall summon the Board hereinafter constituted and refer the matter of such complaint to it fare report. 5. (1) There is (hereby constituted a

Board called " The Agricultural Implement Inquiry Board," consisting of tho President and members of the Arbitration Court, the President for the time being of the Formers' Union, some person appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Trades and Labour Councils, and some person appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations; (2) the members of the Board appointed by the Governor shall be appointed in the same manner as memhers of the Arbitration Court (other than the President) are appointed.

6. (1) The Board on being summoned by the Commissioner shall inquire with as little delay as possible into the matter referred to it in such manner as it tihinks fit, and for the purposes of suoh inquiry shall have and may exercise all the powers that the Arbitration Court ihaa in respect of industrial disputes; (2) the Board ehall report in writing to the Commissioner the result of.the inquiry, and shall state whether or not in its opinion the price of any implement imparted into New Zealand has been materially reduced (below that specified in the statement mentioned in section three hereof; (3) in its report the Board may recommend that .the duty or any additional duty as the case may require Ibe imposed on the importation of any implement not exceeding in either case 40 per centum on the invoiced value of the implement; (4) the Commissioner on receipt of the report shall .lay the same before the Governor, who may if he thinks fit by order-in-council gazetted impose a duty or an additional duty on the importation into New Zealand of any implement not exceeding in either case 40 per centum on the value aforesaid.

7. (1) If at a.ny time after the pnGEi'ng of this Act the manufacturers of implements in New Zealand agree to reduoe the price of the wfliole of the implements mentioned in the schedule hereto or not leas than a moiety thereof to at least 20 per centum below that specified in the statement mentioned in section three hereof, and notify the CommLssioneir ©f such -agreement, he ehall summon the Board and refer the matter to it for report; (2) the Board shall in like manner make inquiry into the matter and report in writing to the Commissioner whether or not in it? opinion it is advisable for the protection of the industry in New Zealand that a duty or that an additional duty equal to the amount of suoh reduction, but not exceeding 40 per centum, shall be imposed; (3) the Commissioner on receipt of such report shall lay the same before the Governor, who may by Order-in-Council impose a duty or an additional duty on the importation into New Zealand of any implement not exceedingly in either case 40 per centum on the invoiced value of the implement. 8. (1) On complaint to the Commiss:oner by any importer of any implement or other person interested that after the gazetting of any suoh order the manufacturers in New Zealand have raised the price of any implement beyond that specified in the statement mentioned in ©action three hereof ca* that current at the time When such duty or additional duty was imposed, he shall summon the Board and refer the matter of 6uch complaint to it for report; (2) the Board ehall in like manner make enquiry into the matter so a*©ferred to it and report in writing to the Commissioner whether or not in its opinion the price of any implement manufactured in New Zealand has after the Gazetting of any Order-in-Oouncil under section six hereof been materially rar'sed, and may in such report recommend that the duty or additional duty imposed by the said Order-in-Councdl be abolished or reduced; (3) the Commissioner on receipt of such last mentioned report > shall lay the same before the Governor, who may by Order-in-Counoil abolish or reduce the duty or additional duty as recommended by the Board. 9. For the purposes of this Act implements of British manufacture shall 'be deemed to foe manufactured in New Zealand, and the importers of such implements shall foe deemed to be manufacturers tiihereof in New Zealand.

10. This Act shall be deemed to be incorporated with " The Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 1882," arid its amendments.

11. The Governor may from time to time by Order-in-Council gazetted make .regulations necessary for the carrying out of this Act.

12. This Act shall continue in operatiom trll the Ist day of September, 1906, on which day it shall be deemed to be repealled.

Schedule of implements to which this Act (relates:—Ploughs of all kinds over l£cwt, tine harrows, disc harrows, drills, combined grain, seed and manure, ten coulters and over, grain rollers, land end Cambridge, over 7 cwt, cultivators and grubbers over 2 cwt, ehaffcutters, 9in mouth and over, self-bagging chaff cutters, seed cleaners.