TARIFF BOARD.

No. 29 of 1924.

An Act to amend the Tariff Board Act 1921-1923.

[Assented to 26th September, 1924]

BE it 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 Tariff Board Act 1924.

(2.) The Tariff Board Act 1921-1923 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Tariff Board Act 1921-1924.

Appointment of Board.

2. Section six of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (3.) the word “five” and inserting in its stead the word “three”.

Taking of evidence.

3. Section eleven of the Principal Act is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following sub-sections:—

“(4.) Inquiries conducted by the Board relating to—

(a) any revision of the Tariff;

(b) any proposal for a bounty; or

(c) any complaints made under paragraph (h) of sub-section (1.) of section fifteen,

shall be held in public, and evidence in such inquiries shall, subject to the next succeeding sub-section, be taken in public on oath.

“(5.) If any witness objects to giving any evidence in public which the Board is satisfied is of a confidential nature, the Board may take such evidence in private if it considers that it is desirable in the public interest to do so.

“(6.) The Board shall, by advertisement published in two newspapers circulating in the State in which the inquiry is to be held, give reasonable notice of its intention to hold any inquiry under this section, the subject of the inquiry and the time and place at which the inquiry is to be held.

“(7.) Evidence taken by the Board in connexion with any inquiry under the Customs Tariff (Industries Preservation) Act 1921-1922 shall be taken in public on oath and shall be reduced to writing and filed with the documents relating to the inquiry subject to clause three, sub-clauses five and six of this Act.”

Annual Report.

4. Section eighteen of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (1.) thereof the word “June” and inserting in its stead the word “July”.

Repeal of section 37.

5. Section thirty-seven of the Principal Act is repealed