Agricultural Produce (Cereals) (Amendment) Act, 1956

Sale seasons.

2.—(1) The Minister may in any year by order—

(a) appoint a period, beginning not earlier than the 15th day of July in that year and ending not later than the 31st day of August in the next year, to be a sale season in relation to wheat harvested in that year,

(b) restrict, to specified categories of persons (including categories consisting of persons holding licences or permits under the order), the purchase during the sale season of such wheat from growers,

(c) impose conditions to be complied with when purchases of such wheat from growers are effected by persons in such specified categories,

(d) fix, by reference to any specified matters, prices for such wheat sold by or purchased from growers during the sale season or any specified period during the sale season,

(e) fix rates of payment in respect of services performed by persons acting as agents of holders of milling licences in connection with the purchase of such wheat during the sale season,

(f) fix maximum charges for distribution of sacks to growers of such wheat,

(g) fix, by reference to any specified matters, prices for such wheat sold by or purchased from persons who have purchased such wheat from growers,

(h) provide for control during the sale season of the possession, sale, disposal or use of such wheat,

(i) provide for the granting by the Minister at his absolute discretion of licences and permits for the purposes of the order and for the attachment to such licences and permits of conditions to be complied with by the holders,

(j) provide for matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing matters.

(2) The Minister may by order amend any order under this section (including any order under this subsection).

(3) The provisions contained in the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to any sale season appointed under this section.

(4) There shall be charged, levied and paid on the grant of any licence or permit granted for the purposes of an order under this section such (if any) fee as the Minister for Finance shall from time to time direct.

(5) All fees charged and levied by virtue of subsection (4) of this section shall be collected and taken in such manner as the Minister for Finance shall from time to time direct and shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of that Minister.

(6) The Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of any fees charged and levied by virtue of subsection (4) of this section.

(7) An order under this section shall not apply in relation to the purchase or sale of wheat by the Minister.