Agriculture Act, 1931

Contracts by committees of agriculture.

30.—(1) A committee of agriculture may make contracts with persons for the execution of works authorised by or under this Act to be executed by a committee of agriculture or for the supply of goods or materials or for any other purpose necessarily or properly arising in the execution by such committee of their functions under this Part of this Act, and every such contract made by a committee of agriculture in accordance with this section shall be as valid and effectual in all respects and for all purposes as if such committee had been, at all material times, a body corporate.

(2) The following provisions shall apply to every contract made by a committee of agriculture, that is to say:—

(a) every contract made by a committee of agriculture for the execution of any work shall be in writing and shall specify the work to be done, the materials (if any) to be supplied, the prices to be paid by the committee for such work and materials respectively, the time within which the contract is to be performed, and the penalties for failure or delay in the performance thereof;

(b) every contract by a committee of agriculture which is made in writing shall be expressed to be made by the council by whom such committee is appointed with the addition (after the name of such council) of the words “acting by the committee of agriculture” and shall be sufficiently executed on behalf of such council and such committee if signed by not less than two members of such committee acting by direction of such committee and countersigned by an officer of such committee;

(c) any contract by a committee of agriculture which is not required by this section or otherwise by law to be made in writing may be made by parole by not less than two members of such committee acting by direction of such committee;

(d) any contract by a committee of agriculture may be varied or discharged by such committee in the like manner and form as is required by this section in respect of such contract;

(e) before a contract involving the payment by a committee of agriculture of the sum of one hundred pounds or any greater sum is made by such committee, such committee shall cause not less than ten days' public notice by advertisement or otherwise to be given stating the nature and purpose of such contract and inviting tenders for the execution thereof;

(f) on the making of a contract involving the payment by a committee of agriculture of the sum of one hundred pounds or any greater sum, such committee shall require and take from the person by whom such contract is to be performed sufficient security for the due performance thereof;

(g) a committee of agriculture may compound in such manner as they think proper with any person in respect of any penalty or other liability incurred by such person to such committee by reason of failure or delay in the performance of a contract made by such committee whether such penalty or liability arises under such contract or under a bond or guarantee collateral to such contract or by way of damage or otherwise.