MEMORANDUM.

This Bill is intended to prohibit the existing practice of holding "mock auctions" at which worthless goods are sold to the public by means of intentional misrepresentations as to their nature, and under the pretence that a genuine sale by auction is taking place.

The Bill imposes penalties on a person conducting or assisting in such sales, and in the case of a licensed auctioneer provides for the forfeiture of his licence and renders him ineligible for a fresh licence for a period of twelve months.

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BILL

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Amend the law with respect to auctioneers and to A.D. 1927. prohibit the holding of mock auctions.

E it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, 5 as follows:--

1. No person conducting or assisting to conduct a Prohibition public sale of goods by auction or otherwise shall of "mock knowingly misdescribe by word or by implication the auctions." purposes of such sale, the origin of the goods to be sold, 10 or the nature, quality or substance of such goods.

2. (1) Any person who contravenes the foregoing Penalties. provision shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds. Any person who having been already convicted for an offence under this 15 Act, commits a second offence, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and on conviction on indictment shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

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(2) Any licensed auctioneer convicted under this Act shall forfeit his licence, and shall not be eligible for the issue of a fresh licence for a period of twelve calendar months after the date of conviction.

3. This Act may be cited as the Auctioneers Act, Short title. 25 1927.