NORTHERN TERRITORY ACCEPTANCE.

No. 24 of 1919.

An Act to ratify an Agreement for the Variation of the Agreement for the Surrender and Acceptance of the Northern Territory, and to amend the Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910.

[Assented to 28th October, 1919.]

Preamble.

WHEREAS on the seventh day of December One thousand nine hundred and seven the Commonwealth and the State of South Australia (in this Act referred to as “the said State”) entered into an agreement (in this Act referred to as “the said Agreement”) for the surrender to and acceptance by the Commonwealth of the Northern Territory of Australia subject to approval by the Parliaments of the Commonwealth and of the said State:

And whereas by an Act intituled “The Northern Territory Surrender Act 1907” the Parliament of that State approved of the said Agreement:

And whereas by an Act intituled the Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 the Parliament of the Commonwealth ratified and approved the said Agreement a copy whereof is set out in the Schedule to that Act:

And whereas by the said Agreement it was among other things provided that the Commonwealth, in consideration of the surrender of the Northern Territory and property of the said State therein and the grant of the rights thereafter in the said Agreement mentioned to acquire and to construct railways in South Australia proper, should give and continue to give to the said State and its citizens equal facilities at least in transport of goods and passengers on the Port Augusta Railway to those provided by the State Government at the date of the making of the said Agreement and at rates not exceeding those in force at that date:

And whereas the Commonwealth and the State of South Australia have entered into an Agreement (in this Act referred to as “the amending Agreement”), subject to approval by the Parliaments of the Commonwealth and of the said State, to vary the provision referred to in the last preceding paragraph to the effect that, upon approval and ratification of the amending Agreement by the Parliaments of the Commonwealth and of the said State, the facilities to be given to the said State and its citizens in transport of goods and passengers on the Port Augusta Railway shall be at rates not exceeding those for the time being in force on the railways of the said State for similar services:

And whereas it is desirable to approve and ratify the amending Agreement:

Be it therefore enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1919.

(2.) The Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910–1919.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

Approval of amending Agreement.

3. The amending Agreement, which is set out in the Schedule to this Act, is by this Act ratified and approved.

Amendment of s. 14 of Principal Act.

4. Section fourteen of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraph (f) the words “in force at that date” and inserting in their stead the words “for the time being in force on the railways of the State for similar services”.

THE SCHEDULE.

This Agreement made the twenty-first day of October nineteen hundred and nineteen between the Commonwealth of Australia (hereinafter referred to as “the Commonwealth”) of the one part and the State of South Australia (hereinafter referred to as “the State”) of the other part for the purpose of amending the terms of a certain Agreement made the seventh day of December nineteen hundred and seven between the same parties whereby it was agreed that the State should (inter alia) on the terms and conditions therein appearing surrender to the Commonwealth the Northern Territory (as therein defined) and should sell and transfer to the Commonwealth the Port Augusta Railway (as therein defined), (which said lastmentioned Agreement is hereinafter referred to as “the principal Agreement”) witnesseth that, subject as hereinafter mentioned to the approval of the Parliament of the Commonwealth and the Parliament of the State and for the mutual considerations mentioned in the principal Agreement, it is hereby further agreed as follows:—

1. Subdivision (f) of clause (1.) of the principal Agreement is amended by substituting for the words “rates not exceeding those at present in force,” the words “rates not exceeding those for the time being in force on the railways of the State for similar services.”

2. This Agreement shall not take effect nor be binding in any way unless and until approved and ratified by the Parliament of the Commonwealth and the Parliament of the State.

In witness whereof the Honorable William Morris Hughes (Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia) for and on behalf of the said Commonwealth and the Honorable Archibald Henry Peake (Premier of the State of South Australia) for and on behalf of the said State have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.