31Evidence

31 Evidence

(1) The Secretary may by instrument in writing: (a) create offices for the purposes of this section; and (b) appoint persons to those offices. (2) All courts shall take judicial notice of the signature of any person: (a) who holds or has held the office of Secretary; or (b) who holds or has held an office under subsection (1); and of the fact that that person holds or has held that office, if the signature purports to be attached or appended to an official document, and any such document purporting to be so signed is prima facie evidence in all courts of the facts and statements contained in the document. (3) A certificate in writing signed by a person who holds or has held an office referred to in subsection (2) certifying: (a) that assistance of a specified amount was paid to a specified person or to specified persons on a specified date; or (b) that a specified amount is the amount of assistance paid to a specified person or to specified persons in consequence of a specified act, failure or omission; is prima facie evidence in all courts of the matters certified.