(1) Application for the renewal of a licence may be made not earlier than 1 January and not later than the last day of February preceding the date of the expiry of the licence, and shall be filed by the applicant in the same manner as if it were an application for the grant of a licence.
(2) Every person who objects to the renewal of a licence under this Act may at any time before 7 March in any year file in the District Court in which application for the renewal of the licence has been filed a notice in the prescribed form of his objection to the application and of the grounds thereof.
(3) No such objection shall be considered unless and so far as the grounds thereof affect the character or financial position of the applicant, or, in the case of an application by or on behalf of a firm of partners, the character or financial position of the partners, or, in the case of an application by a company, the financial position of the company or the character of the directors or of the general manager, or, in any case, the character of any person who it is proposed shall be authorised to conduct auction sales under the licence.
(4) Where any objection is lodged to the renewal of a licence, the District Court Judge shall hear and determine the application for renewal in the same manner as if it were an application for the issue of a licence.
(5) In the absence of any objection to an application for the renewal of a licence the District Court Judge may on payment of the appropriate fee grant a renewal without further inquiry as to the fitness of the applicant to hold an auctioneer's licence, or the fitness of any person who it is proposed shall conduct auction sales under the licence.
(6) The District Court Judge may in his discretion hear and determine any application for the renewal of a licence, or any objection to such renewal, notwithstanding that such application or objection may not have been filed within the times limited by this section in that behalf.
(7) If application for the renewal of a licence has been filed but is not determined on or before 31 March in any year, the licence shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, be deemed to be extended until the application is disposed of by a District Court Judge in accordance with this Act; and the Registrar of the court shall in the prescribed form forthwith give to the Minister notice of such non-determination.
Section 16(2): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).
Section 16(3): amended, on 1 April 1958, by section 3(i) of the Auctioneers Amendment Act 1957 (1957 No 11).
Section 16(3): amended, on 1 April 1958, by section 4(4)(g) of the Auctioneers Amendment Act 1957 (1957 No 11).
Section 16(4): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).
Section 16(5): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).
Section 16(5): amended, on 1 April 1958, by section 4(4)(g) of the Auctioneers Amendment Act 1957 (1957 No 11).
Section 16(6): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).
Section 16(7): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).
Section 16(7): amended, on 1 January 1949, pursuant to section 12(4) of the District Courts Act 1947 (1947 No 16).