THE WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 to 1944

Transcription

1 499 THE WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 to 1944 Wire and Wire-Netting Advances Act of 1927, 18 Geo. 5 No. 23 Amended by Co-ordination of Rural Advances and Agricultural Bank Acts and Other Acts Amendment Act of 1944, 8 Geo. 6 No.4, Part III An Act to Make Provision for the Ratification of an Agreement between The Commonwealth of Australia and The State of Queensland relating to the Supplying of Wire and Wire-Netting to Settlers, and to give effect to the said Agreement; and for purposes incidental thereto or consequent thereon [Assented to 7 January 1928] WHEREAS an Agreement pursuant to the Commonwealth Wire and Wire Netting Act 1927, a copy of which Agreement is set forth in the First Schedule hereto, was entered into on the twenty-eighth day of March one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven, between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland: And whereas by virtue of the provisions of the said Agreement the said State has agreed to receive from the said Commonwealth an advance for the purpose of purchasing fencing wire (including barbed \vire) and wire-netting to be supplied to settlers in the State: And whereas it is desirable that the said Agreement should be ratified and provision made to give full effect to its provisions: PART I-PRELIMINARY I. Short title and parts of Act. This Act may be cited as '"The \,yire and Wire-Netting Advances Act of 1927." This Act is divided into Parts, as follows: PART [-PRELIMINARY AND RATIFICATION; PART II-ApPLICATIONS AND REPAYMENTS; PART III-SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL BANK AND OTHER MORTGAGEES; PART IV-MAINTENANCE OF WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING FENCES; PART V-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Collective title conferred by Act of 1944, 8 Geo. 6 No.4, s. 8. The sections are grouped under the various Parts as follows:-part I comprises ss. 1-3; Part II, ss. 4-12; Part III, ss. 13, 14; Part IV, S ; Part Y, SS

2 500 WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING Vol Interpretation. In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the meanings set against them respectively, that is to say- "Actual value of the wire or wire-netting"-the amount of money paid by the State for the wire or wire-netting: The term shall mean the amount of money paid by the State to the supplier for the wire or wire-netting, together with freight, insurance, and exchange, or any of these (or partly to the supplier and partly to some other person, firm, corporation, or company, by arrangement with such supplier) in every case where the State purchases wire or wire-netting from such supplier under a contract or arrangement, express or implied, that the price charged by such supplier is the price at a place named by such supplier, and includes the cost of the wire or wire-netting and the cost of freight, insurance, and exchange, or any of these; "Commissioner"-The Land Commissioner appointed under the provisions of "The Land Act of 1910" and its several amendments for the district in which the land in question is situated; "Holding"-Any country land held in fee simple, or any country land held under lease or license from the Crown, but does not include land held under lease or license from The Commissioner of Irrigation and Water Supply; "Minister"-The Secretary for Public Lands or other Minister of the Crown charged for the time being with the administration of this Act; "Prescribed"-Prescribed by this Act; "Settler"-In relation to land held in fee simple-the registered owner of such land: In relation to land held under lease or license from the Crown-the person for the time being entitled to the possession of the land as lessee or licensee from the Crown; "This Act" -This Act and all Orders in Council and Regulations made thereunder; "Wire"-Fencing wire, and includes barbed wire. Act referred to: Land Act of 1910; see now Land Act , title LAND, Vol. 9, p "Actual value of the wire or wire-netting."-for the duty of the Minister to notify the applicant of the actual cost, see s. 6. "Holding".-For the constitution of,the Commissioner of Irrigation and Water Supply, see definition of "Commissioner" in s. 3 of Water Act , title WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE, p. 306, ante. See also Irrigation and Water Supply Commission Acts, 1946 to 1949, same title, p. 171, ante. "Minister".-For power of Minister to give effect to agreement, see s. 3 (3). As to Minister's discretion to approve of or refuse applications for advances, see s. 4 (3); as to Minister's authority to supply wire or wire-netting to applicant, s. 5; as to Minister's duty to notify applicant of actual costs, s. 6; as to Minister's powers to insist on maintenance of fences, s. 15; as to Minister's rights under mort!,!age, s. 19, and Schedule II; as to Minister's property in wire or wire-netting pending payment, s. 22. Generally as to Minister's rights, see Schedule II. "Settler".-For procedure regulating applications f0r advances of wire or wire-netting, see Part II (ss. 4-12); for provisions governing maintenance of

3 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 ss wire and wire netting fences, see Part IV (S ). As to settler's duties of maintenance in relation to land mortgaged under this Act, see Schedule II, e!. 6. Semble "the registered owner of such land" is the registered proprietor under the provisions of the Real Property Acts, title REAL PROPERTY, Vol. 14, p "This Act".-The power to make regulations is contained in s. 24; as to submission of regulations to Parliament, see s. 25. RATIFICATION 3. (1) Ratification of Agreement. Schedule I. It is hereby declared that the Agreement (as set forth in the First Schedule hereto) dated the twenty-eighth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven, between The Honourable Thomas Paterson as representing the Commonwealth and The Honourable Alfred James Jones as representing the State of Queensland, so far as it affects the said State, is approved, authorised, and ratified, and is and shall be valid and effectual for all purposes, and shall be carried into effect. (2) Ratification of acts, etc., prior to the passing of this Act. It is also hereby declared that all acts and things done, all contracts and agreements entered into, and all mortgages and undertakings executed, in pursuance of the said Agreement and prior to the passing of this Act, are approved, authorised, and ratified, and are and shall be valid and effectual for all purposes, and shall bind the parties thereto. (3) Power of Minister. It is further hereby declared that the Minister shall have power to do all things necessary to give effect to the provisions of the said Agreement under and subject to the provisions of this Act. PART II-ApPLICATIONS AND REPAYMENTS 4. (1) Appiication for advances. Any settler who desires to obtain an advance of wire or wire-netting under the provisions of this Act for the purpose of erecting a rabbit-proof, marsupial-proof, or dog-proof fence may make application in the prescribed form to the Commissioner to have such wire or wire-netting supplied. In every such application the holding upon which the settler has erected or proposes to erect the fence on which the wire or wire-netting will be used shall be specified. No such application shall be entitled to any preference or priority by reason only of its having been made or lodged before any other application. (2) Procedure. Upon receipt of any such application the Commissioner shall forward it to the Minister, with a report and recommendation, and thereupon the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, approve of the application or approve of the application with such modifications as he may deem fitting, or refuse the application. (3) Offer to applicant, and conditions. If an application is approved with or without modification by the Minister, the Minister may make an offer to the applicant. Such offer shall set forth- (a) The quantity and type of wire or wire-netting which the Minister is willing to supply; (b) The estimated cost of such wire or wire-netting (inclusive of all charges) delivered at the railway station nearest the holding on which it is proposed to be used;

4 502 WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING Vol. 20 (c) The terms and conditions on which the Minister is willing to supply such wire or wire-netting. ( 4) It shall be a condition of every such offer that the applicant shall undertake in writing- (i) That in the event of such wire or wire-netting being supplied to him he will, within twelve months after its receipt by him, use the said wire or wire-netting in the erection upon the holding specified in his application (or such other holding as the Minister may permit) of rabbit-proof, dog-proof, or marsupial-proof fences, as approved by the Minister, and for no other purpose. (ii) That he will execute such mortgages or other securities as the Minister may require, if and when called upon by the Minist. so to do. "Settler", "Commissioner", "wire" and "Minister" are defined in s Supply of wire or wire-netting. Upon receipt of the applicant's acceptance of the Minister's offer and of an undertaking in accordance with the provisions of the last preceding section, the Minister may, out of funds available for the purpose, supply, either wholly or in part, the wire or wire-netting, as the case may be, as set out in his offer to the applicant. 6. Notification of actual value. When any wire or wire-netting has been supplied by the Minister to a settler, the Minister shall, as soon as is practicable, notify such settler of the actual value of the wire or wirenetting, as the case may be, or both, supplied to the applicant, together with the cost of the handling charges at the port or place of entry into the State of such wire or wire-netting, and of freight and cartage charges and of incidental charges and expenses. For definitions of "wire", "Minister", "settler" and "actual value of the wire or wire-netting", see s Duties of settler. When any wire or wire-netting has been supplied to a settler in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such settler shall, with all due diligence, take delivery of it and convey it to the holding specified in his application or such other holding as the ~/~inister may permit, and proceed with the work of erecting it on the said holding. "Wire", "settler", "Minister" and "bolding" are defined in s Repayments by settler. The actual value of the wire or wire-netting, as the case may be, or both, supplied to the applicant, together with the cost of the handling charges at the port or place of entry into the State of such wire or wire-netting, and of freight and cartage charges and of incidental charges and expenses, shall be deemed to be a loan to the settler, which loan shall in the manner prescribed in the next succeeding section be repaid to the Minister by the settler during the period of years set forth in the Minister's offer to such settler made in accordance with the Agreement set forth in the First Schedule hereto. For definitions of "wire" and "Minister", see s (1) Loan and repayment thereof. In the case of every such loan for which the period of repayment is twenty-five years, the liability of the settler to the Minister for repayment of such loan shall be discharged if the settler pays to the Minister fifty equal and consecutive half-yearly

5 WIRE, ETC.. ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 ss instalments during the said period of twenty-five years, each such instalment being calculated on the basis of the payment by the settler to the Minister during such period of twenty-five years of- (a) A sinking fund contribution at the rate of two per centum per annum of the amount of such loan; and (b) Interest on the amount of such loan at a rate per annum not more than one per centum above the rate per annum charged by the Commonwealth to the State upon the amount of such loan. (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this subsection, interest on the amount of such loan (whether made before or after the passing of "The Co-ordination of Rural Advances and Agricultural Bank Acts and Other Acts Amendment Act of 1944") on and after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and forty-four, at the rate of four dollars per centum per annum and the amount of any half-yearly instalment payable in respect of any loan made before the passing of such lastmentioned Act shall be reduced to the extent necessary to give effect to this paragraph. (2) In the case of every such loan for which the period of repayment is less than twenty-five years, the settler shall repay the amount of the loan, together with interest thereon at a rate to be fixed by the :\1inister (which rate shall not be more than one per centum per annum above the rate per annum charged by the Commonwealth to the State upon the amount of the loan), by equal and consecutive half-yearly instalments of principal and interest during the period of years set forth in the Minister's offer to such settler. Provided that the provisions of this subsection shall be deemed to be modified and the amount of any half-yearly instalment of principal and interest payable under this subsection shall be reduced to the extent necessary to give effect to paragraph (c) of subsection one of this section. (3) Repayment of loan before expiration of period. (i) The Minister in his absolute discretion may permit any settler to repay the whole of any loan under the provisions of this Act, with the proper interest thereon, at any time before the expiration of the period of the loan. (ii) In any case of such repayment of a loan, the amount owing by the settler to the Minister at the time of such repayment shall be the amount remaining after deducting the sum of all amounts paid by the settler to the Minister in repayment of such loan and interest thereon from the sum of the following, viz.:- (a) The actual value of the wire or wire-netting; and (b) The cost of handling charges at the port or place of entry of such wire or wire-netting into the State; and (c) The cost of freight and cartage charges and incidental charges and expenses in respect of such wire or wire-netting other than such as may be included in paragraph (a) above; and (d) Interest on so much of the sums mentioned in the three preceding paragraphs as was from half-year to half-year outstanding, at the rate per centum which was charged in respect of the loan; and

6 504 WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING VoI_ 20 (e) The amounts expended by the Minister on maintenance in accordance with the provisions of section fifteen of this Act, if such amounts were added to the loan; and (f) Interest on so much of the sums mentioned in the preceding paragraph as was from time to time outstanding, at the rate per centum which was charged in respect of the loan. (4) On and from the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and forty-four, interest shall be adjusted monthly on the last day of each and every calendar month and for the purpose of such adjustment interest shall be calculated upon the amount of the loan owing as at the expiration of the fifteenth day of the calendar month in question, except- (i) That any loan or addition to a loan made during any calendar month shall be taken into account as carrying interest from the date when such loan or addition is made; and (ii) That, subject to the settler having paid all moneys payable by him to the Minister, any amount (being not less than twenty dollars) of a loan repaid sooner or comprising the excess in a Jarger instalment than is provided for or contained in this Act or in any security (and such repayment or the excess in such instalment not being appropriated with the consent of the Minister to payment in whole or in part of any instalment or instalments to become due and payable at any future time or times) shall be taken into account as carrying interest to the date when such amount is repaid, or such excess is paid, as the case may be. (5) Interest as prescribed under and pursuant to this Act shall continue to be payable upon the loan (or upon so much thereof as shall from time to time be owing) until the whole of the loan has been repaid and if, on and from the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and forty-four, such interest or any part thereof shall not be paid before the expiration of fifteen days after the due date for payment thereof, such interest shall (but without prejudice to the powers and remedies conferred upon the Minister by, under, or pursuant to this Act or any mortgage or other security in respect of the loan concerned) be added to the amount of the loan outstanding and carry interest as if such addition were a further advance. As amended by Act of 1944, 8 Geo. 6 No.4, s. 9. Decimal currency references substituted pursuant to section 7 of Decimal Currency Act of Act referred to: Co-ordination of Rural Advances and Agricultural Bank Acts and Other Acts Amendment Act of 1944, not reprinted. "Minister" and the expression "actual value of the wire or wire-netting" are defined in s Security required for loan. The Minister shall not supply any wire or wire-netting to any settler under the provisions of this Act except upon the security of a mortgage or mortgages to him over the holding upon which the fence or fences on which the wire or wire-netting is proposed to be used are erected, or over some other holding or holdings on which the fence or fences, on which the wire or wire-netting is used, has, or have, with the express permission of the Minister, been erected:

7 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 ss Provided that the Minister may at any time require any settler to give him such further security over any property as the Minister may think fit. As to mortgages under this Act, see also ss , Settler to forward deed of grant, etc. In every case where a settler accepts the Minister's offer, such settler shall, before any wire or wirenetting is supplied to him, forward to the Under Secretary of the Department of Public Lands the deed of grant, certificate of title, instrument of lease, license, or other instrument of title of the holding on which the wire or wire-netting is to be used, for endorsement thereon of the mortgage or mortgages in respect of the loan. And when such mortgage or mortgages has or have been registered the Minister shall be entitled, while any moneys payable in respect of the loan remain unpaid, to retain possession of such deed of grant, certificate of title, instrument of lease, license, or other instrument of title. 12. Leases or licenses capable of being mortgaged. Notwithstanding anything in any Act contained, any lease or license from the Crown shall be capable of being mortgaged in respect of a loan as aforesaid under this Act, and such mortgage may be registered in the proper registers of the Department of Public Lands or the Department of Mines, as the case may be. Upon registration of such mortgage upon a holding which would, but for the provisions of this Act, not be capable of being so mortgaged, such mortgage shall have the same effect in all respects as if the said holding were, but for the provisions of this Act, capable of being so mortgaged. "Holding" is defined in s. 2. PART III--SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL BANK AND OTHER MORTGAGEES 13. Mortgage to Corporation of Agricultural Bank to have priority. ( 1 ) In any case where the holding of a settler who desires to obtain an advance of wire or wire-netting under the provisions of this Act is already mortgaged to The Corporation of the Agricultural Bank, the mortgage to the said Corporation shall, notwithstanding anything in this Act contained, have priority over the mortgage to the Minister under this Act. (2) In any case where a settler who desires to obtain an advance of wire or wire-netting under the provisions of this Act also desires to obtain an advance from The Corporation of the Agricultural Bank, the mortgage to the said Corporation shall, in the event of an advance being made by the said Corporation, have priority over the mortgage to the Minister under the provisions of this Act, notwithstanding anything in this Act contained. For definitions of "settler", "wire", "Minister", see s. 2. For the constitution of the Agricultural Bank, see Co-ordination of Rural Advances and Agricultural Bank Act , s. 6, title BANKING, Vol. 1, p Other mortgages. In any case where the holding of a settler who desires to obtain an advance of wire or wire-netting under the provisions of this Act is already mortgaged otherwise than to The Corporation of the Agricultural Bank, any mortgage to the Minister under the provisions of this Act shall have priority over any such other mortgage.

8 506 WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING Vol. 20 PART IV-MAINTENANCE OF WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING FENCES 15. (l) Conditions of advances: Powers of Minister. It shall be a condition of every advance of wire or wire-netting under this Act that the settler shall maintain the fence in which such wire or wire-netting is used at all times in a good and substantial condition as a rabbit-proof, marsupial-proof, or dog-proof fence, as the case may be, to the satisfaction of the Minister. (2) Further powers of Minister. If it appears to the Minister that the settler or his successor in title has neglected to maintain the fence in which the said wire or wire-netting is used, the Minister may cause notice to be given to such settler to execute any works (including the removing of any tree, limb of a tree, prickly-pear, or any other vegetable growth that may be endangering the fence) which in the opinion of the Minister may be necessary to maintain such fence in a good and substantial condition. If the settler fails to carry out forthwith the works set out in the Minister's notice as aforesaid, the Minister may himself cause such works to be executed, and for this purpose may authorise any person to enter upon and remain on the holding for the purpose of carrying out the said works. In the event of such works being carried out by the Minister, the Minister shall notify the settler that such works have been so executed, and of the costs and expenses thereof. Thereupon the amount of such costs and expenses shall be repaid by such settler to the Minister within one month from the date of the Minister's notification to him. In default of such payment by the settler within the prescribed time, the Minister may sue for and recover the amount, together with costs of action, in any court of competent jurisdiction, or in the alternative the Minister may, with respect to such costs and expenses, add such amount to the amount secured by the mortgage over the holding as aforesaid; and when such addition has been made the settler shall repay that amount, with interest thereon at the rate which is charged in respect of the loan, by equal and consecutive half-yearly instalments during the unexpired part of the period of the loan. The first of such instalments shall be paid with the next ensuing payment of instalment of the loan. 16. (1) Power of entry by settler. For the purpose of maintaining any such fence as aforesaid in a good and substantial condition as a rabbitproof, dog-proof, or marsupial-proof fence, the settler shall have full right and authority to enter and remain upon any land co:1tiguous to his holding (whether such land is held in fee simple or is held under lease or license from the Crown or is a road or public reserve) for the purpose of carrying out any work necessary for the maintenance of the fence or of carrying out any work which the Minister has given him notice to effect. The owner, occupier, lessee, licensee, or trustee of such contiguous land shall have no cause of action or remedy against such settler for entering and remaining upon such contiguous Jand solejy for the purposes as aforesaid:

9 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 ss Provided, however- (a) Such settler shall, before entering upon such contiguous land, give such contiguous owner, occupier, lessee, licensee, or trustee two weeks' notice of his intention to enter upon such land and to carry out the works as aforesaid. (b) Should the owner, occupier, lessee, licensee, or trustee of such contiguous land object to such entry, such objector may apply to the nearest clerk of petty sessions to be heard on the matter. Upon such application being made, such clerk of petty sessions shall hear and determine the matter and give such orders as in his opinion are equitable. The determination and order of the clerk of petty sessions in such matter shall be final and without appeal, and shall be obeyed by the settler and the objector. (c) Provided also that such settler in carrying out any work as aforesaid shall exercise all reasonable care that no more damage to or disturbance of such contiguous land than is necessary for the purposes as aforesaid shall be occasioned by his entering and remaining thereon. (2) Duties of settler. Should such settler enter and remain upon a contiguous road as aforesaid, he shall not under any circumstances disturb the soil of the said road or erect or construct upon such road any work which may be an obstruction to such road. He shall wholly remove or entirely destroy any tree, limb of a tree, or other vegetable growth felled or deposited upon such road by him. The Local Authority or the Commissioner of Main Roads, as the case may be, is hereby exonerated from any liability whatsoever in respect of any act or omission of the settler with respect to his entry upon or carrying out any work as aforesaid on any road. Clerk of petty sessions-now clerk of the court; see Justices Acts Amendment Act of 1964, s. 2 (4), title JUSTICES, Vol. 8, p Paymeuts in respect of fencing. (1) Should any settler, who has erected a rabbit-proof, dog-proof, or marsupial-proof fence with wire or wire-netting obtained by him as an advance under the provisions of this Act, obtain any sum of money from any person (whether a contiguous owner, lessee, occupier, or licensee, or otherwise) as payment for such fence or a share or interest therein (whether such sum of money is obtained by agreement with such person or by virtue of the provisions of "The Fencing Act of 1861" and "The Fencing Act of 1861 Extension Act of 1897," or section one hundred and seventy-one or 171A of "The Land Act of 1910" and any amendment thereof, or otherwise howsoever), such settler shall pay such part of the said sum of money as is received by him for the wire or wire-netting to the Minister (or such smaller sum as may be required wholly to redeem the loan), to be applied to the reduction of the amount of the loan to the settler then remaining unpaid, and upon such payment the amount of the loan shall be reduced accordingjy. In default of such payment the Minister may sue for and recover the amount, with costs, from such settler in any court of competent jurisdiction, and such default shall in addition be a breach of condition on which the wire or wire-netting was supplied to the settler, and the remedies provided to the Minister by the Second Schedule to this Act shall apply in every such case.

10 508 WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING Vol. 20 (2) For the purpose of ascertaining the amount owing by the settler at the time a reduction of a loan under this section is made, the provisions of paragraph (ii) of subsection three of section nine of this Act shall be applied. (3) In every case where wire or wire-netting supplied to a settler under the provisions of this Act is used on a dividing fence, no right or interest which the holder of land contiguous to such dividing fence may acquire in such fence shall in any way prejudice or affect the security which the settler has given to the Minister in respect to the repayment of the loan for such wire or wire-netting supplied by the Minister to such settler. In this subsection the term "dividing fence" shall have the same meaning as is ascribed to it in "The Fencing Act of 1861," and "The Fencing Act of 1861 Extension Act of 1897." Acts referred to: Fencing Act of 1861 and Fencing Act of 1861 Extension Act of 1897 (repealed). Land Act of 1910; see now Land Act , title LAND, Vol. 9, p Application of provisions of other Acts. The provisions of sections eighty, one hundred and seventy-one and 171A of "The Land Act of 1910" and its several amendments, and the provisions of "The Rabbit Acts, 1885 and 1889," and "The Rabbit Act of 1913," and the provisions of "The Marsupial Proof Fencing Acts, 1898 to 1913," as amended or as may be amended by any Act or any subsequent Act, shall, so far as the same may be applicable and not in conflict with the provisions of this Act, be applicable to every rabbit-proof, dog-proof, or marsupial-proof fence constructed of wire or wire-netting obtained as an advance under the provisions of this Act. Acts referred to: Land Act of 1910; see now Land Act , title LAND, Vol. 9, p Rabbit Acts, 1885 and 1889; Rabbit Act of 1913; see now Rabbit Act , title RABBITS, Vol. 14, p Marsupial Proof Fencing Acts, 1898 to 1913, not reprinted. PART V-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 19. Rights of Minister uuder a mortgage. Schedule II. The Minister shall have and may exercise all the rights, authorities, powers, privileges, responsibilities, and remedies provided to or conferred upon him in the provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act. Such provisions may from time to time be altered or added to by the Governor in Council by Order in Council published in the Gazette, and the said Second Schedule as so altered or added to shall thereupon become for the time being the Second Schedule to this Act, and have effect accordingly. 20. Irrigation holdings. The Governor in Council is hereby empowered under sectio:rj. seventeen of "The Irrigation Act of 1922" and any Act amending or in substitution for that Act, from time to time to make regulations, and from time to time to add to, rescind, or amerrd such regulations, to give effect to the Agreement of the twenty-eighth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven, between the Commonwealth and the State so far as irrigation holdings are concerned. Act referred to: Irrigation Acts, 1922 to 1965, title WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE, p. 117, ante.

11 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 ss Exemption from registration fee. Notwithstanding anything in any other Act contained, no registration fee shall be charged in respect of any mortgage under the provisions of this Act or other security under the provisions of this Act where such mortgage or security is over any land held under lease or license from the Crown. 22. Wire or wire-netting to be property of Minister whilst moneys under loan remain unpaid. While any money remains unpaid in respect of any loan under this Act, the wire or wire-netting, or both, in respect of which such loan was incurred, shall be and remain the property of the Minister, and subject to this Act the settler shall have no right to remove, sell, or dispose of such wire or wire-netting in any way. 23. Application of covenants in mortgage or security. While any mortgage or other security under this Act remains registered over any holding, the covenants contained, expressed, or implied in such mortgage or security shall be deemed to have been made by every successor in title of the holding to the settler who executed such mortgage or other security, and such successor in title shall be bound by such covenants accordingly. For definition of "holding", see s. 2; as to mortgages of leases or licenses from the Crown, see s. 12. As to the Minister's power to impose conditions on the transfer of a holding. see Schedule II, cl Regulations. ( 1) The Governor in Council may from time to time make regulations, and from time to time add to, rescind, or amend such regulations, providing for all or any purposes, whether general or to meet particular cases, that may be convenient for the administration of this Act or that may be necessary or expedient to carry out the objects and purposes of this Act, and where there may be in this Act no provision or no sufficient provision in respect to any matter or thing necessary or expedient to give effect to this Act, providing for or supplying such omission or insufficiency. (2) The regulations may impose fees in respect of any inspection, registration, or other matter issued, granted, or made by any officer or other person under this Act. (3) The regulations may, where no penalty is provided by this Act, provide penalties to an amount not exceeding forty dollars for any breaches of this Act or omission to carry out any duty under this Act. (4) Upon publication in the Gazette, the regulations shall have the same effect and validity as if they were enacted in this Act, and shall be judicially noticed, and shall not be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever. Decimal currency reference substituted pursuant to section 7 of Decimal Currency Act of The term "regulations" is included in the expression "this Act", of which see definition in s. 2. As to the legal effect of delegated power to make regulations of equal validity with the Act itself, see Preliminary Note to title ACTS OF PARLIAMENT, Vol. 1, p. 72. For regulations, see Table of Contents, p. 496, ante. 25. Orders in Council and regulations to be laid before Parliament. All Orders in Council and regulations shall be laid before Parliament within fourteen days after such publication, or, if Parliament is not then sitting, then within fourteen days after the next meeting of Parliament. Orders in Council and regulations are included in the expression "this Act". See definition of that expression in s. 2.

12 510 WIRE AND WIRE-NETIING Vol. 20 [Preamble and section 3] FIRST SCHEDULE An Agreement made the twenty-eighth day of March one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven pursuant to the Wire and Wire-Netting Act 1927 of the Commonwealth of Australia between The Minister of State for Markets and Migration of the Commonwealth of Australia for and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia (in this Agreement referred to as "the Minister," which expression shall where the context so admits or requires be deemed to mean the Minister of State for Markets and Migration for the time being or the Member of the Federal Executive Council for the time being performing the duties of the Minister) of the one part and the State of Queensland (in this Agreement referred to as "the State") of the other part: Whereas the State is desirous of receiving from the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth is willing to make to the State an advance for the purpose of purchasing fencing wire (including barbed wire) (in this Agreement referred to as "wire") and wire-netting to be supplied to settlers in the State: Now therefore it is mutually agreed as follows:- 1. The Commonwealth shall advance to the State out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the Commonwealth for the purpose such amounts (not exceeding the amounts required by the State) as the Commonwealth determines for the purchase of wire and wire-netting. 2. All wire and wire-netting to be purchased by the State pursuant to this Agreement shall unless otherwise approved in writing by the Minister be of Australian manufacture. 3. Subject to this Agreement the State shall supply to settlers in the State the wire and wire-netting purchased with the amounts so advanced. 4. The State shall not supply the said wire or wire-netting to any settler unless the settler undertakes that he will within twelve months after its receipt by him use the wire or wire-netting in the erection upon land owned or occupied by him of rabbit-proof, dog-proof, or marsupial-proof fences as approved by the State or some authority of the State and for no other purpose. 5. The State shall use every reasonable endeavour to ensure that every settler fulfils the undertaking given by him in pursuance of the last preceding clause. 6. The State undertakes to pay to the Commonwealth half-yearly for twenty-five years calculated on each amount advanced under this agreement- (a) A contribution to the National Debt Sinking Fund established under the National Debt Sinking Fund Act or any amendment thereof or to any sinking fund established by the Commonwealth in lieu thereof at the rate of Two per centum per annum of the amount advanced; and

13 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 Seh. I 511 (b) Interest at a rate of One per centum per annum less than that paid by the Commonwealth on the loan out of which the advance is made but not exceeding Four per centum per annum. 7. (1) Subject to this Agreement the State undertakes that the supply Lo a settler in the State of any wire or wire-netting purchased with any amount advanced under this Agreement shall be upon the condition that the liability of the settler to the State in respect of the wire or wire-netting so supplied shall be discharged if the settler pays to the State half-yearly for twenty-five years- (a) A sinking fund contribution at the rate of Two per centum per annum of the amount of the value of the wire or wire-netting supplied to the settler; and (b) Interest upon the amount of the value of the wire or wirenetting supplied to the settler at a rate not more than One per centum above the rate charged by the Commonwealth to the State upon the amount advanced to the State. (2) For the purpose of this clause "the amount of the value of the wire or wire-netting" shall be deemed to mean the amount paid by the State for the wire or wire-netting. It Where the amount received by the State from settlers in respect of wire or wire-netting supplied to the settlers exceeds the amount required to be paid to the Commonwealth by the State in pursuance of clause six of this Agreement, the State shall pay the amount of the excess to the credit of a Trust Fund to be utilised during the currency of the Agreement for the purpose of purchasing wire and wire-netting to be supplied to ~ettlers on the same terms as wire and wire-netting purchased with the amounts advanced to the State under this Agreement. ~I. In addition to the payments to be made to the State by settlers as provided in clause seven of this Agreement the State may- (i) Charge each settler a sum at the rate of One pound ( 1) per mile of wire-netting supplied to the settler to cover administration expenses and losses; (ii) Require each settler supplied with wire and/or wire-netting on which handling charges at the port or place of entry into the State of such wire and/or wire-netting have been incurred by the State to bear a proportion of such handling charges; and (iii) Require each settler to bear all freight and cartage charges to the settler's land of the wire and/or wire-netting supplied to him. 10. In any case where the State desires that the liability of the settler to the State shall be discharged before the expiration of a period of twentyfive years in order to conform with unexpired terms of leaseholds the cjnditions of payment by the settler to the State may with the consent in writing of the Minister be varied to the necessary extent. Any such variation shall not however affect the undertaking by the State to pay to the Commonwealth the instalments of interest and sinking fund as provided by clause six of this Agreement.

14 512 WIRE AND WIRE-NETIING VoL 20 In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the Honourable Thomas Paterson, the Minister of State for Markets and Migration of hthfe C f 0hmmonwealth, (Sgd.) T. PATERSON. [LoS.] for and on be al 0 t e Commonwealth, in the presence of- (Sgd.) E. J. MULVANY. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the} Acting Premier of the State, for and on behalf of the State, in the presence of- (Sgd.) T. A. FERRY. (Sgd.) A. J. JONES. [LoS. ] [Section 19J SECOND SCHEDULE For the purposes of this Act the Minister may have and from time to time may exercise all or any of the following rights, authorities, powers, privileges, responsibilities, and remedies:- 1. Security. The Minister may hold, until the same can be advantageously disposed of, any property, real or personal, taken by him as security for or in satisfaction, liquidation, or discharge of any debt owing to him. Minister to be a corporation sole. For the purposes of this section, the Minister representing the Crown shall be a corporation sole by the name of "The Secretary for Public Lands," and by that name shall have, perpetual succession and an official seal, and shall be capable in law of suing and being sued, and shall have power to take, purchase, sell, exchange, lease, and hold land, goods, chattels, and other property, and subject to this Act may do any acts not otherwise unlawful which may be necessary to the proper exercising and performance of the powers, functions, and duties of the Minister under this Act to the same extent as a private person may do. 2. [Repealed by Act of 1944, 8 Geo. 6 No.4, s. 10.] 3. Commencement of loan. The Minister may fix the date on which the period of any loan under the provisions of this Act shall begin, and when any such date has been so fixed by the Minister the settler shall be bound to commence repayment of his loan as from that date accordingly, and interest shall begin to run as from such date. 4. Power of Minister as to advances. When any advance of wire or wirenetting has been approved by the Minister under the provisions of this Act, the Minister may, before the whole of such advance has been delivered to the settler- (a) If no portion of such advance has been so delivered, cancel the advance;

15 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 Schs.l,2 513 (b) If any portion of such advance has been so delivered, cancel the balance of the advance then remaining undelivered. Upon such cancellation the actual value of the part of the wire or wire-netting which has been delivered, together with the cost of handling, freight, cartage, and incidental charges and expenses, shall be deemed to be the loan to the settler for the purposes of this Act. S. Assignments. By way of further security for an advance, a settler may assign to the Minister the whole or any part of any moneys due or to become due to the settler as payment for primary produce or resultant products of the same by any body or person. 6. (1) Duties of settler. Every settler who has given a mortgage or other ~ecurity to the Minister under this Act shall, during the continuance of the same, to the satisfaction of the Minister or other person authorised in that behalf- (a) Destroy noxious plants on the land comprised in such mortgage or other security; (b) Keep in good and tenantable repair all structures, fences, fixtures, and improvements upon the land; (c) Insure and keep insured all buildings upon the land; (d) Pay all rates and taxes, and perform all the lawful requisitions of any local or other authority with respect to the land; (e) Perform the conditions of any lease and observe the provisions of any Act under which the land is held. For the purposes of this section, "repair" includes painting. (2) Notice to comply with requirements. The Minister may give the settler notice in writing to comply with the requirements of this section, and if, after the expiration of two months from the date of such notice, t le settler has not complied with such requirements, the like consequences shall follow as are hereinafter provided in case of default made in the fayment of any instalment payable under this Act. 7. Restriction on transfer, subdivision, etc. A settler who has mortgaged tl) the Minister a holding held in fee-simple by him for an advance of wire or wire-netting under this Act shall not transfer, subdivide, or let s Ilch holding without the written consent of the Minister during the continuance of such mortgage, and in the event of any such transfer, sjbdivision, or letting without such consent the Minister may have and exercise the remedies hereinafter provided in case of default made in payment of any sum of money under this Act. 8. (I) Transfer. Where the consent of the Minister is sought to the transfer of any holding, the Minister may require as a condition to his cmsent that the transferee shall enter into and execute in favour of the Minister such mortgages, bonds, covenants, and other instruments and securities as will effectually secure the payment by the transferee of the amount then outstanding of the loan to the settler, with the prescribed interest. (2) Lease. Where the consent of the Minister is sought to the letting a [ any holding, the Minister may require as a condition to his consent that the lessee shall pay all or part of the rents and profits of the holding to h 1m in reduction of the amount of the loan to the settler. t7

16 514 WIRE AND WIRE-NETTING Vol Further remedies of Minister. Without prejudice to any other right or remedy of the Minister, in any case where a settler fails to pay at the due time any half-yearly instalment or any amount of interest payable under the provisions of this Act or under the terms of a mortgage executed by him, although no legal demand has been made for the payment thereof, and in any case where a settler fails to perform the obligations placed on him with respect to the erection and maintenance of wire or wirenetting supplied under the provisions of this Act, and in any case where a settler fails to carry out the provisions, covenants, stipulations, or conditions of an undertaking or mortgage given by him in pursuance of the provisions of this Act, and in any case where a settler jeopardises his title to the holding which is mortgaged to the Minister under the provisions of this Act by failing to perform the conditions under which he holds such holding, or otherwise howsoever, and in any case where a settler uses wire or wire-netting supplied under the provisions of this Act in any way other than in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or without the cor:sent of the Minister removes, sells or disposes of such wire or wire-netting, or causes such wire or wire-netting to be removed, sold or disposed of, then and in every such case the whole of the amount of the loan then remaining unpaid shall forthwith become due and payable and shall be recoverable with interest at the prescribed rate by the Minister accordingly, and the Minister- (a) May enter upon and take and retain possession of (for that purpose using such force as may be necessary to eject any occupant) and may sell the whole or any part of the holding with respect to which the loan has been incurred, with all improvements thereon, including in the term "improvements" wire or wire-netting supplied under the provisions of this Act (or, as may be deemed expedient, all or any of such improvements apart from the land, and authorise the removal of the same when sold, and with or without a subsequent sale of the whole or any part of the land) either by private sale or public auction, and subject to such terms and conditions of sale as the Minister deems expedient, and after such notice of the time, place, terms, and conditions of sale as he thinks expedient, with power to give time for payment of purchase money or to allow the purchase money to remain on mortgage ; at the risk of the settler, and to vary or rescind any contract of sale, and to buy in at any auction, and to sell without being answerable for any loss, and the Minister may transfer or convey such land to the purchaser, and give a valid title thereto: Provided that in the event of the Minister's selling a holding with improvements thereon and the amount received from such sale is insufficient wholly to repay the loan of the settler, such settler shall still be liable for repayment to the Minister of the difference between the amount of the loan remaining unpaid at the time of the sale and the amount received from such sale, and the Minister may recover from such settler the amount of such difference accordingly; (b) Shall apply the proceeds derived from sale under this section in payment, in the first instance, of all moneys due in respect

17 WIRE, ETC., ADVANCES ACTS, 1927 TO 1944 Sch of such land, and in redemption of any amount with the due interest secured by mortgage thereon in favour of the Minister, or of so much thereof as remains unpaid, and of all expenses incurred by the Minister in relation to such sale or otherwise with respect to such land, and shall pay the balance (if any) to the person appearing to the Minister to be entitled to receive the same. For the purpose of ascertaining the amount owing by the settler to the Minister at the time of such sale, the provisions of paragraph (ii) of subsection three of section nine of this Act shall be applied. ( c ) May, after he has taken possession of any holding under this section, permit any occupant to be or remain in occupation of such holding at such occupation rent as he may fix. (d) May, in any case where a holding is held under lease or license from the Crown under the laws in force relating to the occupation, leasing and alienation of Crown land, declare forfeiture of such holding under the provisions of the said laws: Provided that, in the event of such forfeiture, the amount of the loan remaining unpaid at the date of such forfeiture shall be a debt due to the Crown for the purposes of such laws. LO. Further powers of Minister. Whenever under this Act power is conferred upon the Minister to cause any land to be sold, the Minister may, if he thinks fit, from time to time previous to exercising such power of ~,ale, lease such land or any part thereof for any term not exceeding thirty years. Every such lease shall contain a covenant to pay such rent and observe such conditions as the Minister in each case thinks fit. ~hall The rents and profits from time to time derived from any such lease be applied- (a) In payment of the costs and expenses from time to time incurred in connection with the lease; (b) In payment of all moneys due in respect of such land; ( c) In payment of the instalments and other payments (if any) due under this Act; (d) In payment of the balance (if any) to the settler. ] 1. (1) Sum owing deemed a debt. In addition to any other remedy pro \ided by this Act for the recovery of any sum of money payable under any provision of this Act to the Minister by a settler, it is hereby declared that every such sum shall be and remain, until payment, a debt due by the settler to the Crown, and shall be recoverable, with interest, by the Minister accordingly. (2) Remedies in Act in addition to remedy as creditor. The pro "isions of this Act for securing to the Minister the repayment to him of all advances shall be in addition to any other remedy which the Minister has against the settler as a creditor, and the Minister may enforce any slch remedy.