Full description
The Rural Assistance Board was established by the Rural Assistance Act, 1971 (Act No 62, 1971) which also abolished the Rural Reconstruction Board . The Act received assent on 15 December 1971(1) and the new Board was established on 1 January 1972, (2) The Board consisted of seven members appointed by the Governor upon the nomination of the Minister. Two members the recently abolished Closer Settlement Advisory Board R.A. Simpson and B.H. Badgery became the Deputy and Assistant Directors respectively. (3)
The functions of the Board were to: a) investigate applications by farmers for assistance; b) formulate and settle reconstruction schemes which usually included the adjustment of debts and farm re-establishment and development programmes; c) make loans, in conjunction with reconstruction schemes, for purposes of debt adjustment and farm re-establishment and development; d) Administering some farms under reconstruction schemes; e) Issue Stay Orders when necessary to allow for complete inquiries to be made into the farmer's financial position: and f) reconstruct marginal wheat areas.
Most of the staff of the former Closer Settlement Barnch [III] of the Department of Lands transferred to the Rural Assistance Board and many of the experienced field staff continued to investigate applications for 'Build-ups' - a scheme that enabled small land holders to increase their standard of living. (4)
The Rural Assistance Act, 1989 (Act No. 97, 1989) repealed the Farmer's Relief Act, 1932 (Act No. 33, 1932) as amended and the Rural Assistance Act, 1971. The Rural Assistance Board was thus abolished and the Rural Assistance Authority was established in its place from 1 July, 1989 to continue the role of financial assistance to the primary industry sector. (5)
Endnotes
1. New South Wales Government Gazette No.149, 24 December 1971, p.4999.
2. Rural Assistance Board Annual Report, year ended 30 June, 1972, Parliamentary Papers 1972-73, Volume 1, p.219.
3. Department of Lands Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 1972, p.17.
4. Loc. cit.
5. New South Wales Government Gazette No. 81, 30 June 1989, p.3810.
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