Fair Trading Amendment Act 2003

15 New sections 47G to 47J inserted

• The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 47F, the following sections:

  “47G Commission may require person to supply information or documents

  • “(1) If the Commission considers it necessary or desirable for the purposes of carrying out its functions and exercising its powers under this Act, the Commission may, by notice in writing served on any person, require that person—

    • “(a) to supply to the Commission, by writing signed by that person or, in the case of a body corporate, by a director or competent employee or agent of the body corporate, within the time and in the manner specified in the notice, any information or class of information specified in the notice; or

    • “(b) to supply to the Commission, or to a person specified in the notice acting on its behalf in accordance with the notice, any document or class of documents specified in the notice.

    “(2) Every person who is required to supply information or documents to the Commission has the same privileges in relation to the supply of the information or documents as witnesses have in any court.

    “Compare: 1986 No 5 s 98; 1994 No 143 s 138(2)

  “47H Notices

  • “(1) Any notice given by the Commission under section 47G is sufficiently given if—

    • “(a) it is in writing; and

    • “(b) it is—

      • “(i) under the seal of the Commission; or

      • “(ii) signed by the Chairman of the Commission; or

      • “(iii) signed by 1 or more of the members of the Commission; or

      • “(iv) signed by any person purporting to act by direction of the Commission; and

    • “(c) it is served in accordance with section 471 on the person or persons primarily concerned or on any person or organisation considered by the Commission to represent the person or persons primarily concerned.

    “(2) In all courts and in all proceedings under this Act, notices given under section 47G that purport to be signed by, or on behalf of, the Commission or to be sealed with the seal of the Commission must be treated as having been signed or sealed with due authority in accordance with subsection (1)(b) unless the contrary is proved.

    “Compare: 1986 No 5 s 101

  “471 Service of notices

  • “(1) Any notice that is authorised to be served on, or given to, any person for the purposes of section 47G may be served or given by—

    • “(a) delivering it to that person; or

    • “(b) leaving it at—

      • “(i) his or her usual or last known place of residence or business; or

      • “(ii) at the address specified by him or her in any notice, application, or other document made, given, or tendered to the Commission under this Act; or

    • “(c) posting it by letter addressed to him or her at that place of residence or business or at that address.

    “(2) If any notice is sent to any person by registered letter, then,—

    • “(a) unless the contrary is proved, the notice must be treated as having been delivered to him or her when it would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post; and

    • “(b) in proving the delivery, it is sufficient to prove that the letter was properly addressed and posted.

    “(3) If the notice is required to be served on an association or body of persons,—

    • “(a) the notice may be served on the secretary, executive officer, manager, or other officer holding a similar position in the association or body; and

    • “(b) service on the association or body must, unless otherwise directed by the Commission, be treated as service on all persons who are members of the association or body, or who are represented on the association or body by those members.

    “Compare: 1986 No 5 s 102

  “47J Offence to contravene section 47G

  • “(1) No person may,—

    • “(a) without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to comply with a notice under section 47G; or

    • “(b) in purported compliance with the notice, supply information, or supply a document, knowing it to be false or misleading.

    “(2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 in the case of an individual, or $30,000 in the case of a body corporate.

    “(3) Proceedings for an offence against subsection (2) may be commenced within 6 months after the matter giving rise to the contravention was discovered or ought reasonably to have been discovered.

    “Compare: 1986 No 5 s 103”