Part 2Agents 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shall not invalidate the appointment of any persons as Agents or Correspondents in pursuance of any Regulations repealed by these Regulations and any Agents or Correspondents so appointed shall continue in office as if appointed under these Regulations.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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.