{"id":"C1912L00116","name":"Labour and Industrial Statistics (Agents and Correspondents) Regulations 1911","slug":"labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"116 of 1912","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":20485,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1912L00116-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Labour and Industrial Statistics (Agents and Correspondents) Regulations 1911","content":"STATUTORY RULES.\n\n1912\\. No. 116.\n\nREGULATIONS UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905.\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, to come into operation forthwith.\n\nDated the 13th day of June, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.\n\nDENMAN,\n\nGovernor- General.\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nKING O’MALLEY,\n\nMinister of State for Home Affairs.\n\nLabour and Industrial Statistics (Agents and Correspondents) Regulations 1912.\n\n1. These Regulations may be cited as the Labour and Industrial Statistics (Agents and Correspondents) Regulations 1911.\n\n2. (1). The Minister may appoint suitable persons to act as Agents and Correspondents to the Labour and Industrial Branch of the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics in such places as he thinks fit.\n\n(2) Each Agent and Correspondent shall be appointed to act as such during the pleasure of the Minister, and shall be paid for his services in accordance with rates approved by the Minister.\n\n(3) Such Agents and Correspondents may be appointed to act either generally in connexion with the collection of Labour and Industrial Statistics, or may be appointed for any specified trade or trades.\n\nC.7467.—Price 5d\n\n \n\n3. Each Agent and Correspondent shall carry out such duties in connexion with the work of the Labour and Industrial Branch of the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics as are assigned to him by the Commonwealth Statistician.\n\n4. Each Agent and Correspondent shall, before his appointment or before he commences duty, make a declaration before a Justice of the Peace, or Commissioner for Affidavits, in the following form:—\n\nCensus and Statistics Act 1905.\n\nDeclaration by Agent or Correspondent.\n\nI,..............of.....................do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will faithfully and to the best of my ability execute the duties assigned by the Commonwealth Statistician to me as Agent or Correspondent to the Labour and Industrial Branch of the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics; and that I will not desert from my duty, or refuse or wilfully neglect, without just cause, to perform my duty as such Agent or Correspondent, or wilfully alter any document, or sign any untrue document or form in connexion with my duty; and that I will not divulge any information obtained by me in the capacity of such Agent or Correspondent, otherwise than to an authorized officer of the said Bureau, or as prescribed by Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905.\n\n.............................\n\n(Signature of Agent or Correspondent.)\n\nDeclared at........................this...........................\n\nday of........................19.........\n\nBefore me—\n\n.......................\n\n(Signature of Justice of the Peace,\n\nor Commissioner for Affidavits.)\n\n \n\n5. An Agent or Correspondent under these Regulations who, having taken the prescribed declaration—\n\n(a) deserts from his duty, or\n\n(b) refuses or wilfully neglects without just excuse to perform his duty, or\n\n(c) wilfully alters any form, or signs any untrue document or form in connexion with his duty, or\n\n(d) divulges, except in accordance with his duty, any information obtained or furnished by him as such Agent or Correspondent,\n\nshall be guilty of an offence.\n\nPenalty: Twenty pounds.\n\n6. Every person who, without reasonable excuse (proof whereof shall lie upon him) refuses or fails to answer to the best of his knowledge and belief, any question asked him by an Agent or Correspondent appointed under these Regulations, shall be guilty of an offence, if the information asked for is necessary to enable the Agent or Correspondent to obtain any information he is authorized, by writing, under the hand of the Commonwealth Statistician, to obtain, and the Agent or Correspondent has produced to the person his authority to obtain the information.\n\nPenalty: Ten pounds.\n\n7. These Regulations supersede the Provisional Regulations (Statutory Rules 1912, No. 12).\n\nReturn of Trade Union Statistics.\n\n1. (1) The Secretary or Acting Secretary or other officer of every Trade Union shall, within twenty-eight days after being required in writing by the Statistician, or by an Agent and Correspondent duly appointed under the Statutory Rules 1912, No. 12, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in the prescribed form of return of Trade Union Statistics.\n\n(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, the Secretary, Acting Secretary, or other officer, as the case may be, of every Trade Union, shall fill in the particulars in the prescribed form, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician, or to such Agent and Correspondent as aforesaid.\n\n(3) In this Regulation “Trade Union” includes—\n\n(a) Every Trade Union, whether registered or unregistered;\n\n(b) Every branch of a Trade Union;\n\n(c) Every Association of the nature of a Trade Union or having objects similar to those of a Trade Union; and\n\n(d) Every branch of an Association coming within paragraph (c).\n\n \n\n(4) The prescribed form of return of Trade Union Statistics is as follows:—\n\nOffice No.\n\nCOMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS (LABOUR AND INDUSTRIAL BRANCH), MELBOURNE.\n\nTrade Union Statistics.\n\nTown State.\n\nIndividual Returns will be treated as Strictly Confidential.\n\n| 1. Full title of Trade Union, Association, or Branch thereof.. | |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |\n| 2. Date of formation............................ | |\n| 3. Is your Union or Association—(a) A Union or Association having Branches in your State only, or(b) A federated or amalgamated Union or Association having Branches in two or more States, or(c) A separate and independent Organization? | |\n| 4. (i.) If your Union or Association is a Branch of a Union or Association having Branches in your State only [see Question 3 (a)], please give particulars specifying name and locality of Head Office.(ii.) If your Union or Association is the Head Office of a Union or Association having Branches in your State only [see Question 3 (a)], please give particulars specifying the number of Branches, and the name and locality of each Branch. | |\n| 5. (i.) If your Union or Association is a Branch of a federated or amalgamated Union or Association having Branches in two or more States [see Question 3 (b)], please give particulars of such Federation, specifying the name and locality of the Head Office in your State and of the Central Executive Office. | |\n\n \n\n```html\n

(ii.) If your Union or Association is the Head Office of a federated or amalgamated Union or Association having Branches in two or more States [see Question 3 (b)], please give particulars specifying the number of Branches and the name and locality of each Branch.

6. If your Union or Association is a separate and independent Organization [see Question 3 (c)], please state whether it is allied for mutual benefit or other purposes with any other kindred trades.

7. Please state whether the Rules of your Union or Association have been printed.

If so, the Bureau would be glad to receive a copy containing the latest amendments (if any).

8. Please state whether any Reports or Balance Sheets of your Union or Association have been printed

If so, the Bureau would be glad to have copies of the latest issues.

9. Please supply particulars in the following table as to membership of your Union, Association, or Branch at the latest date available:—

Number of Members* on the 191 †

Males.

Females (if any).

Total.

* Secretaries of Head Offices of Unions are requested to specify the total number of members in the State; Secretaries of Head Offices of federated or amalgamated Unions to specify total membership in the Commonwealth; Secretaries of Branch Unions should specify membership of Branch only. † Please specify latest date available.

10. If your Union or Association is the Head Office of a Union or Association having Branches in other parts of the State or the Commonwealth, will you please state whether periodic returns as to membership, employment, &c., can be obtained for each Branch of your Union or Association through your Head Office, or whether separate forms should be collected by this Bureau direct from the Secretary of each Branch.

\n```\n\n \n\nRemarks.\n\n(Please state here any special remarks you may desire to make in regard to any of the above queries.)\n\nSignature of Secretary\n\nAddress of Secretary\n\nDate 191\n\n(5) This Regulation supersedes the Provisional Regulation (Statutory Rules 1912, No. 31).\n\nReturns of Retail Prices by Shopkeepers, and Return by Gas Suppliers.\n\n1. These Regulations supersede the Provisional Regulations (Statutory Rules 1912, No. 38).\n\n2. Returns of Retail Prices by Shopkeepers—\n\n(1) The owner of any shop at which any of the articles specified in any of the forms prescribed by this Regulation are sold by retail shall, within such time or times as he may be required by the Statistician so to do, furnish each month to the Statistician the particulars set out in the prescribed form of return which relates to the articles sold by him.\n\n(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, the owner of the shop shall fill in each month the required particulars in the prescribed form, in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying the prescribed form, so far as those particulars include articles of the kind sold in the shop, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician.\n\n(3) In this Regulation—\n\n“owner” includes the manager or person for the time being in charge of a shop and\n\n“shop” includes any store, van, vessel, or place in or from which articles of any kind specified in the prescribed form are sold. \n\n(4) The prescribed forms of return are as follows:—\n\n(a) As regards Groceries, Form R.P. 2, as hereunder set out—\n\nTown..............................State.....................\n\nOffice No. R.P. 2/....\n\nRETAIL PRICES.\n\nName.....................................................\n\nAddress...................................................\n\nThis half-sheet is to be detached and posted to the “Commonwealth Statistician,” Melbourne.\n\nIn filing in this form please follow Instructions carefully.\n\n```html\n

Article.

Unit of Quantity.

Predominant or Most Frequent Price.†

s.

d.

Bread...........................

Per

2-lb. loaf

..........

....

....

Butter...........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Cheese

\"\"

New...................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Matured.................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Eggs

\"\"

New laid...................

„

dozen

..........

....

....

Fresh.....................

„

„

..........

....

....

Flour

\"\"

Ordinary..................

„

25-lb. bag

..........

....

....

Self-raising................

„

*.lbs. packet

..........

....

....

Tea............................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Coffee..........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Cocoa..........................

„

¼ lb.

..........

....

....

\"\"

Middle cut................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Bacon

Shoulder..................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Ham....................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Sugar (white granulated A1)...........

„

*......lbs.

..........

....

....

Rice...........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Sago...........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Jam (Australian)...................

„

*...lbs. tin.

..........

....

....

Oatmeal........................

„

*......lbs.

..........

....

....

Raisins.........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Currants........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Starch..........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Blue...........................

„

dozen squares

..........

....

....

Candles.........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Soap (household, ordinary)............

„

*.lbs. bar

..........

....

....

Potatoes........................

„

14 lbs.

..........

....

....

Onions.........................

„

lb.

..........

....

....

Kerosene........................

„

gallon

..........

....

....

\n```\n\n\\* Enter quantity most frequently sold.\n\n† See instructions, paragraph 4.\n\nRemarks (Enter here the cause of any material advance or decline in the price of any article since the middle of last month)\n\n| ................................................................... |\n| ------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| ................................................................... |\n| (Continue remarks on back of sheet, if necessary.) |\n\n \n\n(b) As regards Butcher’s Meat, Form R.P. 3, as hereunder set out—\n\nTown..............................State.....................\n\nOffice No. R.P. 3/....\n\nRETAIL PRICES.\n\nName.....................................................\n\nAddress....................................................\n\nThis half-sheet is to be detached and posted to the “Commonwealth Statistician,” Melbourne.\n\nIn filling in this form please follow Instructions carefully.\n\n```html\n

Article

Predominant or Most Frequent Price.*

s.

d.

Beef (fresh)—Sirloin.............................

per lb.

....

...

Ribs.....................................

„

....

...

Flank....................................

„

....

...

Shin (without bone) Gravy Beef...................

„

....

...

Steak—Rump.................................

„

....

...

Shoulder..................................

„

....

...

Stewing (Buttock)............................

„

....

...

Beef (Corned)—Round...........................

„

....

...

Brisket (with bone)...........................

„

....

...

„

(without bone).........................

,,

....

...

Mutton—Legs.................................

„

....

...

Shoulders..................................

„

....

...

Loins....................................

„

....

...

Necks.......................................

„

....

...

Chops—Loin..................................

„

....

...

Leg......................................

„

....

...

Neck.....................................

„

....

...

Lamb—Forequarter..............................

„

....

...

Hindquarter................................

„

....

...

Pork (fresh)—Leg...............................

„

....

...

Loin.....................................

„

....

...

Belly.....................................

„

....

...

Chops....................................

„

....

...

\n```\n\n\\* See instructions, paragraph 4.\n\nRemarks (Enter here the cause of any material advance or decline in the price of any article since the middle of last month).........................\n\n(Continue remarks on back of sheet, if necessary.) \n\n(c) As regards Fuel, Form R.P. 4, as hereunder set out—\n\nTown...............................State.....................\n\nOffice No. R.P. 4/....\n\nRETAIL PRICES.\n\nName......................................................\n\nAddress.....................................................\n\nThis quarter-sheet is to be detached and posted to the “Commonwealth Statistician,” Melbourne.\n\nIn filling in this form please follow Instructions carefully.\n\n```html\n

Article.

Predominant or Most Frequent Price.*

s.

d.

Coal....................................

per cwt. †

.....

.....

Coke...................................

„

†

.....

.....

Firewood................................

„

†

.....

.....

\n```\n\n\\* See instructions, paragraph 4. If sold by bag or sack, please state average weight.\n\nRemarks (Enter here the cause of any material advance or decline in the price of any article since the middle of last month)\n\n| ............................................................ |\n| ------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| ............................................................ |\n| ............................................................ |\n\n(d) As regards Milk, Form R.P. 5, as hereunder set out—\n\nTown.................................State.....................\n\nOffice No. R.P. 5/....\n\nRETAIL PRICES.\n\nName........................................................\n\nAddress.......................................................\n\nThis quarter-sheet is to be detached and posted to the “Commonwealth Statistician,” Melbourne.\n\nIn filling in this form please follow Instructions carefully.\n\n| Particulars. | Cash Price. |\n| ------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| | d. |\n| Milk..........................................per quart | |\n\nRemarks (Enter here the cause of any material advance or decline in the price of any article since the middle of last month)\n\n| ............................................................... |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| ............................................................... |\n| ............................................................... |\n| ............................................................... |\n| ............................................................... |\n\nC.7467.\n\nb \n\n3. Return by Gas Suppliers.\n\n(1) The owner of any works at which gas is produced and supplied to the public for illuminating, heating, cooking, or motive purposes, shall, as soon as practicable after being required by the Statistician so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in the prescribed form of return.\n\n(2) In order to comply with this Regulation the owner of the works shall fill in the required particulars in the prescribed form, and shall sign the form and send it to the Statistician.\n\n(3) In this Regulation “owner” includes—\n\n(a) Any municipal corporation or trading company.\n\n(b) The clerk of any municipal corporation, and the secretary of any trading company; and\n\n(c) The manager, superintendent, or person having the direction or management of any gas works.\n\n(4) The prescribed form of return is as follows:—\n\nTown....................................State...................\n\nOffice No. R.P. 6/....\n\nRETAIL PRICES.\n\nName........................................................\n\nAddress.......................................................\n\nThis quarter-sheet is to be detached and posted to the “Commonwealth Statistician,” Melbourne.\n\nIn filling in this form please follow Instructions carefully.\n\n```html\n

Particulars.

Predominant or Most Frequent Price.*

s.

d.

Gas, lighting...................

per 1,000

cub. ft.

......

.....

Gas, cooking...................

„

„

......

.....

\n```\n\n\\* State cash price.\n\nRemarks (Enter here the cause of any material advance or decline in the price of gas—either for lighting or cooking—since the middle of last month)\n\n| .............................................................. |\n| -------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| .............................................................. |\n| .............................................................. |\n\nPrinted and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2030},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing the administrative framework for collecting labour statistics and retail price data. While the document contains multiple distinct schemes (union returns, price collection, gas returns), these are all ancillary to the core statistical function described in the title and preamble."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple distinct regulatory schemes consolidated in one instrument (agents, union returns, retail prices, gas supplies)","Extensive prescribed forms listing specific commodities (e.g., 25+ grocery items, multiple cuts of meat)","Nested definitions within each part (e.g., 'owner' includes managers, 'shop' includes vessels)","Declaration requirements with specific verbal formulae for oaths","Offence provisions with specific penalty amounts (£20 for agents, £10 for non-compliant public)"],"plain_english_summary":"These 1912 regulations set up the administrative machinery for collecting national labour and economic statistics in Australia. The Minister may appoint sworn agents with confidentiality duties and penalties for breaches, and individuals face fines for refusing to answer authorised questions.\n\nThey compel trade unions to supply detailed returns on structure, membership and finances, and require shopkeepers and gas suppliers to submit monthly price returns for specified groceries, meats, fuels, milk and gas—providing standardized data for national statistics."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Regulations expressly supersede earlier provisional regulations (Statutory Rules 1912 Nos. 12, 31, 38) and thereby replace provisional reporting arrangements with these prescribed forms and duties. Practically, they broaden and standardise the compulsory reporting framework for unions, retail sellers and gas suppliers and formalise appointment/payment and offence provisions under the Census and Statistics Act."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple regulated groups with different obligations (Agents; Trade Unions; shop owners; gas suppliers; milk/fuel/butcher returns) increases administrative scope (see Regulations and Return of Trade Union Statistics, Returns of Retail Prices, Return by Gas Suppliers).","Extensive, prescriptive forms (R.P.2–R.P.6 and Trade Union return) require item-level data and monthly or periodic submission, raising compliance burden on respondents.","Ministerial discretion in appointments and payment rates (Regulation 2(1)–(3)) concentrates decision-making and creates administrative variability.","Mandatory declaration and confidentiality duty for agents plus specific criminal offences and fixed monetary penalties (Regulations 4–6; penalties of £20 and £10) introduce legal risk for both agents and respondents.","Cross-references and repeal of provisional rules (superseding Statutory Rules 1912 Nos. 12, 31, 38) mean implementers must track earlier instruments and changes.","Definitions extending terms (e.g. ‘owner’, ‘shop’, and broad definition of ‘Trade Union’ in Trade Union Statistics 1(3)) widen who must report and may create interpretation issues.","Reporting frequency requirements (monthly/periodic/as required by Statistician) embed ongoing administrative costs and record-keeping duties for private parties."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, these Regulations empower the Minister to appoint Agents and Correspondents to the Labour and Industrial Branch and prescribe mandatory, standardised returns and forms for trade unions, shopkeepers (retail prices), gas suppliers and similar parties. They set agent duties, a confidentiality declaration, payment terms for agents, and offence/penalty rules for both agents and persons who refuse to answer authorised questions. \n\nThe rules affect trade-union officers, shop and fuel retailers, gas‑works managers and appointed agents; they matter because they compel regular data provision, impose compliance costs and penalties, and centralise collection under the Commonwealth Statistician."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911","history":"/api/acts/labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911/history","analysis":"/api/acts/labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/labour-and-industrial-statistics-agents-and-correspondents-regulations-1911/documents"}}