Feb. 5.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 441

4. The Minister in Charge may require any person to give to him information relative to the production, importation, exportation, supply, sale, purchase, carriage, storage, use, and consumption of coal, and as to any other matters within the scope of the powers and functions of the Minister under these regulations, and it shall be the duty of all persons to give to the Minister all such information in their possession when so required, and any breach of that duty shall be an offence against these regulations.

5. For the purpose of making adequate provision for the storage of coal required for the use of His Majesty or for the essential industries of New Zealand, the Minister in Charge may take and hold possession of any coal-hulk, wharf, or other place the possession of which he deems necessary for the said purpose, and may use the same for the storage of coal accordingly, whether such coal is the property of the Crown or not. No person shall in any manner obstruct the Minister in Charge in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by this regulation.

6. These regulations shall extend and apply to the State coal-mines, to the Government railways, to transports and other vessels in the service of His Majesty, and to all Government departments and officers of the Crown in the same manner so far as may be as to private industries and private persons.

7. The Minister in Charge may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt lignite coal either wholly or partially from the requirements of these regulations, and may in like manner revoke any such exemption.

PART II.

8. Part II of these regulations shall come into operation on a day to be appointed in that behalf by the Minister in Charge by notice published by him in the Gazette.

9. (1.) No person shall, save in pursuance of a permit issued in that behalf by the Minister in Charge, deliver or be concerned in the delivery of any coal in pursuance of a contract of purchase, whether made before or after the date of the coming into operation of this Part of these regulations.

(2.) Nothing in this regulation shall apply to the delivery of coal for domestic or other uses in quantities not exceeding five tons at any one time, and not exceeding twenty tons in any one period of twenty-eight days.

10. No person shall ship or be concerned in the shipment of any coal (whether as bunker-coal or as cargo, and whether for exportation or for carriage coastwise) save in pursuance of a permit issued in that behalf by the Minister in Charge.

11. (1.) No person shall import or be concerned in the importation of coal into New Zealand save in pursuance of a permit issued in that behalf by the Minister in Charge.

(2.) Nothing in this regulation shall apply to coal imported in pursuance of a contract for the purchase thereof by the importer made before the date of the coming into operation of this Part of these regulations, if such coal is imported into New Zealand within one calendar month after that date.

12. In granting such permits as aforesaid in respect of any coal the Minister in Charge may impose such terms and conditions as to the mode of dealing with that coal as he deems advisable for the regulation of the coal trade and the maintenance of industries essential for the public welfare.

13. Any such permit as aforesaid shall be revocable at the will of the Minister in Charge.

14. When coal has been shipped, delivered, or imported under any such permit no person shall thereafter, without the consent of the Minister in Charge, deal with that coal, or be concerned in dealing therewith, otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions on which the permit was granted.

15. (1.) Save with the consent of the Minister in Charge, no certificate of clearance, whether for parts beyond the seas or otherwise, shall be granted under the Customs Act, 1913, to any collier.

(2.) “Collier” means any vessel which at the date of the gazetting of these regulations is exclusively or chiefly employed in the carriage of coal and is registered in New Zealand.

16. Any person who makes any false representation with intent thereby to obtain a permit under these regulations either for himself or for any other person, or who in any manner deceives or attempts to deceive the Minister in Charge in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by these regulations, shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations and shall be liable accordingly.

J. F. ANDREWS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.