This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
Jurisdiction
Commonwealth
Act Number
289 of 1913
Collection
legislative instrument
Plain English Summary
6/10 complexity
This regulation creates the administrative machinery for collecting detailed national statistics about work, wages, and industry in Australia. It establishes a network of government-appointed "Agents and Correspondents" (field officers) who gather data, with fines up to £20 for officers who leak secrets or falsify records. The rules legally compel specific groups to submit detailed paperwork: Trade Unions must report membership numbers and unemployment quarterly; Employers must disclose wage rates, hours, and industrial disputes; Shopkeepers must report retail prices for groceries and meat; while gas suppliers and real estate agents must also file regular returns. The regulation includes extensive forms (18 different types) to track everything from strikes and lockouts to the cost of living. While compliance is mandatory, individual business details are kept confidential and only published as general summaries. Refusing to answer an agent or submit forms can result in fines.
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Statistics Regulations 1913 (Provisional).
10
Part 1
Preliminary.
Part 1.—Preliminary.
Short title
These Regulations may be cited as the Statistics Regulations 1913.
Parts.
These Regulations are divided into Parts as follows:—
Part 1.—Preliminary.
Part 2.—Agents and Correspondents.
Part 3.—Trade Unions.
Part 4.—Changes in Rates of Wages, and Industrial Disputes.
Division 1.—Employers.
Division 2.—Employers’ Associations.
Part 5.—Shopkeepers.
Part 6.—Gas Suppliers.
Part 7.—House Agents.
Part 8.—Miscellaneous.
Definition.
In these Regulations “the Act” means the Census and Statistics Act 1905.
Forms.
Where in these Regulations a form is referred to the reference is to a form in the Schedule to these Regulations.
C.13742.—Price 8d.
Part 2
Agents and Correspondents.
Part 2.—Agents and Correspondents.
Minister may appoint Agents and Correspondents.
5.—(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.
(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.
(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.
(4) This Regulation shall not invalidate the appointment of any persons as Agents or Correspondents in pursuance of any Regulations repealed by these Regulations and any Agents or Correspondents so appointed shall continue in office as if appointed under these Regulations.
Duties of Agent and Correspondent.
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.
Declaration to be taken.
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 accordance with Form A.
Offences by Agents or Correspondents.
An Agent or Correspondent under these Regulations who, having taken the prescribed declaration—
(a) deserts from his duty, or
(b) refuses or wilfully neglects without just excuse to perform his duty, or
(c) wilfully alters any form, or signs any untrue document or form in connexion with his duty, or
(d) divulges, except in accordance with his duty, any information obtained or furnished by him as such Agent or Correspondent,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Twenty Pounds.
Refusing to supply information to Agent or Correspondent.
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.
Penalty: Ten Pounds.
Part 3
Trade Unions.
Part 3.—Trade Unions.
information to be supplied by Trade Unions.
10.—(1) The Secretary or Acting Secretary or other officer of every Trade Union shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician, or by an Agent and Correspondent duly appointed in accordance with these Regulations, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in Forms B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.
(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 required 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.
(3) In this Regulation “Trade Union” includes—
(a) Every Trade Union, whether registered or unregistered;
(b) Every branch of a Trade Union;
(c) Every Association of the nature of a Trade Union or having objects similar to those of a Trade Union; and
(d) Every branch of an Association coming within paragraph (c).
Part 4
Changes in Rates of Wages, and Industrial Disputes.
Part 4.—Changes in Rates of Wages, and Industrial Disputes.
Div 1
Employers.
Division 1.—Employers.
Information to be supplied by employers.
11.—(1) Every employer shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician, or by an agent or correspondent duly appointed in accordance with these Regulations, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in Forms I and J.
(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, an employer 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.
(3) In this Regulations “Employer” includes—
(a) Any employer in any industry;
(b) The manager, overseer, or person for the time being acting for and on behalf of any employer.
(4) In this Regulation “Industry” includes—
(a) Any business, trade, manufacture, undertaking, or calling of employers, on land or water;
(b) Any calling, service, employment, handicraft, or industrial occupation or avocation of employés, on land or water, and
(c) A branch of an industry and a group of industries.
Div 2
Employers’ Associations.
Division 2.—Employers’ Associations.
Information to be supplied by Employers’ Associations.
12.—(1) The Secretary, or Acting Secretary, or other Officer of every Employers’ Association, shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician or by an Agent and Correspondent, duly appointed in accordance with these Regulations, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in Forms K and L.
(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, the Secretary, Acting Secretary or other Officer, as the case may be, of every Employers’ Association shall fill in the particulars in the prescribed forms, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician or to such Agent and Correspondent as aforesaid.
(3) In this Regulation—
“Employers’ Association” means an association or body (whether registered or unregistered) composed of or representative of employers, or for furthering or protecting the interests of employers, and includes—
(a) a branch of an employers’ association;
(b) every association of the nature of an employers’ association or having objects similar to those of an employers’ association; and
(c) every branch of an association coming within paragraph (b). “Employer” means an employer in an industry.
Part 5
Shopkeepers.
Part 5.—Shopkeepers.
Information to be supplied by shopkeepers.
13.—(1) The owner of any shop or premises at which any of the articles specified in Forms M, N, O, and P 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.
(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.
(3) In this Regulation—
“owner” includes the manager or person for the time being in charge of a shop; and
“shop” includes any store, van, vessel, or place in or from which articles of any kind specified in the prescribed form are sold.
Part 6
Gas Suppliers.
Part 6.—Gas Suppliers.
Information to be supplied by gas suppliers.
14.—(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 Form Q.
(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.
(3) In this Regulation “owner” includes—
(a) Any municipal corporation or trading company.
(b) The clerk of any municipal corporation, and the secretary of any trading company; and
(c) The manager, superintendent, or person having the direction or management of any gas works.
Part 7
House Agents.
Part 7.—House Agents.
Information to be supplied by house agents.
15.—(1) Every person carrying on business as house or estate agent shall furnish within such time or times after the 14th day of February, the 15th day of May, the 15th day of August, and the 15th day of November, respectively in each year, as he may be required by the Statistician so to do, the particulars set forth in Form R.
(2) Every person carrying on such business shall fill in the prescribed form in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying the form, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician.
(3) For the purposes of this Regulation a person in charge of a business of house or estate agent as manager, clerk, or agent for the owner of the business, shall be deemed to be a person carrying on business as house or estate agent.
More sections below
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
1 Statistics Regulations 1913 (Provisional)
STATUTORY RULES.
1913. No. 289.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 should come into immediate operation, and make the Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this 15th day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. H. KELLY,
for Minister of State for Home Affairs.
STATISTICS REGULATIONS
Part 1.—Preliminary.
Short title
These Regulations may be cited as the Statistics Regulations 1913.
Parts.
These Regulations are divided into Parts as follows:—
Part 1.—Preliminary.
Part 2.—Agents and Correspondents.
Part 3.—Trade Unions.
Part 4.—Changes in Rates of Wages, and Industrial Disputes.
Division 1.—Employers.
Division 2.—Employers’ Associations.
Part 5.—Shopkeepers.
Part 6.—Gas Suppliers.
Part 7.—House Agents.
Part 8.—Miscellaneous.
Definition.
In these Regulations “the Act” means the Census and Statistics Act 1905.
Forms.
Where in these Regulations a form is referred to the reference is to a form in the Schedule to these Regulations.
C.13742.—Price 8d.
Part 2.—Agents and Correspondents.
Minister may appoint Agents and Correspondents.
5.—(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.
(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.
(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.
(4) This Regulation shall not invalidate the appointment of any persons as Agents or Correspondents in pursuance of any Regulations repealed by these Regulations and any Agents or Correspondents so appointed shall continue in office as if appointed under these Regulations.
Duties of Agent and Correspondent.
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.
Declaration to be taken.
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 accordance with Form A.
Offences by Agents or Correspondents.
An Agent or Correspondent under these Regulations who, having taken the prescribed declaration—
(a) deserts from his duty, or
(b) refuses or wilfully neglects without just excuse to perform his duty, or
(c) wilfully alters any form, or signs any untrue document or form in connexion with his duty, or
(d) divulges, except in accordance with his duty, any information obtained or furnished by him as such Agent or Correspondent,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Twenty Pounds.
Refusing to supply information to Agent or Correspondent.
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.
Penalty: Ten Pounds.
Part 3.—Trade Unions.
information to be supplied by Trade Unions.
10.—(1) The Secretary or Acting Secretary or other officer of every Trade Union shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician, or by an Agent and Correspondent duly appointed in accordance with these Regulations, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in Forms B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.
(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 required 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.
(3) In this Regulation “Trade Union” includes—
(a) Every Trade Union, whether registered or unregistered;
(b) Every branch of a Trade Union;
(c) Every Association of the nature of a Trade Union or having objects similar to those of a Trade Union; and
(d) Every branch of an Association coming within paragraph (c).
Part 4.—Changes in Rates of Wages, and Industrial Disputes.
Division 1.—Employers.
Information to be supplied by employers.
11.—(1) Every employer shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician, or by an agent or correspondent duly appointed in accordance with these Regulations, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in Forms I and J.
(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, an employer 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.
(3) In this Regulations “Employer” includes—
(a) Any employer in any industry;
(b) The manager, overseer, or person for the time being acting for and on behalf of any employer.
(4) In this Regulation “Industry” includes—
(a) Any business, trade, manufacture, undertaking, or calling of employers, on land or water;
(b) Any calling, service, employment, handicraft, or industrial occupation or avocation of employés, on land or water, and
(c) A branch of an industry and a group of industries.
Division 2.—Employers’ Associations.
Information to be supplied by Employers’ Associations.
12.—(1) The Secretary, or Acting Secretary, or other Officer of every Employers’ Association, shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician or by an Agent and Correspondent, duly appointed in accordance with these Regulations, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in Forms K and L.
(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, the Secretary, Acting Secretary or other Officer, as the case may be, of every Employers’ Association shall fill in the particulars in the prescribed forms, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician or to such Agent and Correspondent as aforesaid.
(3) In this Regulation—
“Employers’ Association” means an association or body (whether registered or unregistered) composed of or representative of employers, or for furthering or protecting the interests of employers, and includes—
(a) a branch of an employers’ association;
(b) every association of the nature of an employers’ association or having objects similar to those of an employers’ association; and
(c) every branch of an association coming within paragraph (b). “Employer” means an employer in an industry.
Part 5.—Shopkeepers.
Information to be supplied by shopkeepers.
13.—(1) The owner of any shop or premises at which any of the articles specified in Forms M, N, O, and P 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.
(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.
(3) In this Regulation—
“owner” includes the manager or person for the time being in charge of a shop; and
“shop” includes any store, van, vessel, or place in or from which articles of any kind specified in the prescribed form are sold.
Part 6.—Gas Suppliers.
Information to be supplied by gas suppliers.
14.—(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 Form Q.
(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.
(3) In this Regulation “owner” includes—
(a) Any municipal corporation or trading company.
(b) The clerk of any municipal corporation, and the secretary of any trading company; and
(c) The manager, superintendent, or person having the direction or management of any gas works.
Part 7.—House Agents.
Information to be supplied by house agents.
15.—(1) Every person carrying on business as house or estate agent shall furnish within such time or times after the 14th day of February, the 15th day of May, the 15th day of August, and the 15th day of November, respectively in each year, as he may be required by the Statistician so to do, the particulars set forth in Form R.
(2) Every person carrying on such business shall fill in the prescribed form in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying the form, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician.
(3) For the purposes of this Regulation a person in charge of a business of house or estate agent as manager, clerk, or agent for the owner of the business, shall be deemed to be a person carrying on business as house or estate agent.
Part 8.—Miscellaneous.
Service of notices.
16.—(1) When any prescribed person is required by the Statistician to fill up and supply, in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying a prescribed form, the particulars specified in that form, the Statistician shall cause to be served on that person a notice of such requirement.
(2) The notice shall be in writing, and, in the case of a person, may be served personally or by being left at his usual or last known place of abode or business in the Commonwealth or by being sent by post addressed to him at such usual or last known place of abode or business, and in the case of a Company may be served personally on, or sent by post addressed to, the Manager or Secretary of the Company at any office or place in the Commonwealth at which the Company carries on business.
(3) Where a notice is sent by post, the time at which the notice so posted would be delivered in the ordinary course of post shall be considered as the time of service thereof.
Utilization of information for State purposes.
Any State officer executing any power or duty under the Act may, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in any arrangement entered into under section 6 of that Act applicable to the case, utilize any statistical information obtained by him in the exercise of that power or duty for the purposes of State Statistics; provided that no information shall be made public or supplied to persons other than officers in the Statistical Office of the State, whereby the particulars of the business or financial position of any individual, or any firm or corporation, or of any aggregate of persons regarded for the purposes of statistics as an individual, may be disclosed.
Additional matters on which information may be given.
In addition to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) to (k) in section 16 of the Act, the Statistician shall, subject to that section, collect annually statistics in relation to the following matters:—
1. Local Government.
2. Water Supply.
3. Taxation of Land and Income.
4. Organizations of Employers and of Employés.
5. Naval and Military and Police.
6. Public Health and Quarantine.
7. Education.
8. Fishing Industry.
9. Sericultural and Pomological Industries.
10. Prices, Rents, and Cost of Living.
11. Wages and Earnings.
12. Industrial Disputes.
Repeal.
The following Regulation previously made under the Act, in relation to the collection of statistics, and in force at the commencement of these Regulations, are hereby repealed, save as to any right, privilege, obligation, or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder:—
Statutory Rules No. 95 of 1908.
Statutory Rules No. 121 of 1909.
Statutory Rules No. 116 of 1912.
Statutory Rules No. 184 of 1912.
Statutory Rules No. 216 of 1912.
Statutory Rules No. 227 of 1912.
Statutory Rules No. 8 of 1913.
Statutory Rules No. 32 of 1913.
Statutory Rules No. 33 of 1913.
Statutory Rules No.157 of 1913.
THE SCHEDULE.
Form A.
Census and Statistics Act 1905
Declaration by Agent or Correspondent.
I, 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.
(Signature of Agent or Correspondent.)
Declared at this
day of 19
Before me—
(Signature of Justice of Peace, or Commissioner for Affidavits.)
Form B.
Office No.
Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (Labour and Industrial Branch) Melbourne.
Trade Union Statistics.
Town State
Individual Returns will be treated as Strictly Confidential.
1. Full title of Trade Union, Association, or Branch thereof......................
2 Date of formation................................................
3 Is your Union or Association—(a) A Union or Association having Branche
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.