No. 24/1927:

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT ACT, 1927

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I PRELIMINARY

1 Short title.

2 Definitions generally.

PART II THE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT CORPORATION

3 Formation and registration of the Corporation.

4 Name and capital of the Corporation.

5 Subscription of capital of the Corporation.

6 State liability for capital of the Corporation.

7 State liability for dividends on the capital of the Corporation.

8 Memorandum of Association of the Corporation.

9 Objects of the Corporation.

10 Articles of Association of the Corporation.

11 Directors of the Corporation.

12 Limitations on the lending of money by the Corporation.

13 Limitations on receipt of deposits by the Corporation.

14 Issue of debentures by the Corporation.

15 Issue of Certificates of Charge by the Corporation.

16 Additional returns to Registrar of Companies.

17 Accounts of the Corporation.

18 Exemption from stamp duty.

19 Registration of Joint Orders of Minister for Finance and Minister for Lands and Agriculture.

20 Powers of Minister in respect of shares held by him.

21 Charge of moneys on Central Fund.

22 Offences in relation to loans by the Corporation.

PART III CHATTEL MORTGAGES

23 Definitions in relation to chattel mortgages.

24 Recognised banks.

25 Registers of chattel mortgages.

26 Operation and effect of specific chattel mortgage.

27 Operation and effect of floating chattel mortgages.

28 Priorities of chattel mortgages.

29 Disclosure of chattel mortgage to creditor.

30 Statement of existing indebtedness by intending mortgagor.

31 Effect of chattel mortgages in relation to execution orders.

32 Avoidance of bills of sale on farming stock.

SCHEDULE

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE FORMATION AND REGISTRATION OF A COMPANY HAVING FOR ITS PRINCIPAL OBJECT THE GIVING OF CREDIT TO PERSONS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESSES ANCILLARY TO AGRICULTURE, TO AUTHORISE THE GIVING OF GUARANTEES BY THE STATE IN RELATION TO THE CAPITAL OF SUCH COMPANY AND SECURITIES ISSUED BY IT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO SUCH COMPANY, AND TO FACILITATE THE BORROWING OF MONEY BY FARMERS ON MORTGAGES OF THEIR FARMING STOCK AND TO REGULATE THE OPERATION AND EFFECT OF SUCH MORTGAGES.

[28th May, 1927.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:—

PART I PRELIMINARY

1.—This Act may be cited as the Agricultural Credit Act, 1927 .

2.—In this Act—

the expression "the Minister" means the Minister for Finance;

the expression "the Corporation" means the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited, to be formed and registered in pursuance of this Act;

the expression "the Directors" means the Directors of the Corporation;

the word "agriculture" includes the breeding, rearing or keeping of animals of any kind (including birds and insects), dairying and the pasturing of animals, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.

the word "farmer" means a person or two or more persons jointly or in common carrying on some form of agriculture on land as a business for profit;

the word "farm" means the land on which the farmer in relation to whom the expression is used carries on his business as farmer;

the word "mortgage" means and includes any instrument by which land is charged with or made liable for or security for the payment of money;

the expression "first mortgage" means a mortgage affecting only land which is not subject to any charge or encumbrance having priority to such mortgage other than terminable land purchase annuities under the Land Purchase Acts, rent-charges in lieu of tithes, or charges created under the Landed Property Improvement (Ireland) Acts, the Drainage and Improvement of Land (Ireland) Acts, 1863 to 1892, or the Drainage Maintenance Acts 1866 and 1924.

PART II THE AGRICULTURAL CREDIT CORPORATION

3.—Immediately upon the passing of this Act the Minister shall take all such steps as appear to him to be necessary or desirable to procure that a limited company (in this Act referred to as the Corporation) conforming to the conditions laid down in this Act shall be formed and registered under the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924 not later than the 30th day of September, 1927 to perform the functions specified in this Act.

4.—(1) The name of the Corporation shall be "The Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited."

(2) The capital of the Corporation shall be £500,000 (five hundred thousand pounds) divided into five hundred thousand shares of one pound each of which five shillings shall be payable on application for the share and a further five shillings shall be payable not less than twenty nor more than forty days after allotment, and the residue shall be payable as and when called by the Directors on not less than thirty days notice.

(3) A trustee may, unless expressly forbidden by the instrument (if any) creating the trust, invest any trust funds in his hands, whether at the time in a state of investment or not, in any shares of the Corporation which are at the time of the investment fully paid-up as to capital.

5.—(1) Two hundred thousand shares of the Corporation shall be offered at the one time for subscription only by banks carrying on business either wholly or partly in Saorstát Eireann and as soon as may be after the expiration of the time limited with the approval of the Minister for such subscription the remaining three hundred thousand shares of the Corporation and such if any of the said two hundred thousand shares as shall not have been subscribed for by such banks shall be offered at the one time for subscription by members of the general public.

(2) All shares of the Corporation offered for subscription by the general public and not so subscribed for shall at the expiration of the time limited with the approval of the Minister for such subscription be subscribed for by the Minister.

6.—(1) In the event of the Corporation going into liquidation (whether voluntary or compulsory) and being wound up and its assets proving on such winding-up to be insufficient to pay to the members of the Corporation the full amount of its paid-up capital, the Minister shall provide and pay to the liquidator in such winding-up such sum as will be sufficient with the assets of the Corporation available for the purpose to pay the full amount of the paid-up capital of the Corporation.

(2) All moneys paid under this section to the liquidator by the Minister shall (whether the assets of the Corporation are or are not sufficient to pay its creditors in full) be applied by such liquidator in or towards paying to the members of the Corporation the full amount of the paid-up capital of the Corporation.

7.—(1) The Corporation shall pay to its members dividends at the fixed rate of five per cent per annum on the amount of its capital for the time being paid up and such dividends shall be paid by the Corporation half-yearly on such dates as shall be appointed for that purpose by the Directors with the approval of the Minister.

(2) If on any of the days appointed under this section for the payment of half-yearly dividends the Corporation have not any or sufficient moneys available for the payment of the dividend so payable on such day the Corporation shall forthwith certify to the Minister the sum which with the moneys (if any) so available is required to pay such dividend and upon receipt of such certificate the Minister shall advance to the Corporation the amount so certified by the Corporation and the moneys so advanced shall be forthwith applied by the Directors in or towards payment of such dividend.

(3) All moneys advanced to the Corporation by the Minister under this section shall be repayable by the Corporation to the Minister on demand with interest from the date of the advance at such rate as shall be fixed by the Minister and (except in the winding-up of the Corporation) shall be so repayable only out of moneys which are profits as ascertained in accordance with directions of the Minister and in the winding-up of the Corporation shall be so repayable after the creditors of the Corporation have been paid in full.

8.—(1) The Memorandum of Association of the Corporation shall be in such form consistent with the provisions of this Act as shall be approved by the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924 no alteration in the Memorandum of Association of the Corporation which is made without the previous approval of the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture or is inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act shall be valid or effective.

9.—(1) The objects of the Corporation shall be so stated in its Memorandum of Association that the principal functions of the Corporation shall be the lending or advancing (subject to the restrictions imposed by this Act) of money upon such security as the Directors may, subject to the provisions of this Act, think proper, the discounting and purchasing (subject to the restrictions imposed by this Act) of bills of exchange, promissory notes, and other negotiable instruments, the receipt (subject to the provisions of this Act) of deposits of money, the receipt of deposits of securities for safe-keeping and management and, so far as may be lawful, the execution of trusts in relation to such securities.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent or restrict the inclusion among the objects of the Corporation as stated in its Memorandum of Association of all such objects and powers as are reasonably necessary or proper for or incidental or ancillary to the due performance of the principal functions aforesaid and are not inconsistent with this Act.

10.—(1) The Articles of Association of the Corporation shall be in such form consistent with the provisions of this Act as shall be approved by the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924, no alteration in or addition to the Articles of Association of the Corporation which is made without the previous approval of the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture or is inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall be valid or effective.

11.—The Articles of Association of the Corporation shall provide—

(i) that the number of directors (including the Chairman) shall be seven, of whom four shall be elected by the shareholders with the usual provisions for co-option to casual vacancies and three shall be nominated by the Minister from time to time as occasion requires;

(ii) that so long as the Minister holds more than two hundred thousand shares of the Corporation the Chairman of the directors shall be nominated from time to time by the Minister from amongst the three directors nominated by him.

12.—(1) The memorandum and articles of association of the Corporation shall be so framed and expressed that the Corporation shall be entitled and authorised to lend or advance money only to the persons and for the purposes hereinafter stated, that is to say:—

( a ) to any farmer for the purpose of constructing buildings on his farm, or making on his farm improvements of a permanent character calculated to increase or facilitate or conduce to the increase of the productivity thereof or for the purpose of purchasing live stock, agricultural machinery or implements, manures, feeding stuffs, seeds, or other requisites of agricultural production or marketing;

( b ) to any co-operative society (subject to the limitations hereinafter contained) for the purpose of establishing, carrying on, or extending its business;

( c ) to any person engaged in or proposing to engage in an enterprise primarily designed for the service of farmers or of farming communities for the purpose of establishing, carrying on, or extending such enterprise;

( d ) to any person (other than a co-operative society) for the purpose of purchasing for agricultural purposes land which was immediately before the purchase comprised in a security held by the Corporation from the vendor of such land;

( e ) to any person (other than a co-operative society) for the purpose of paying off a loan which was originally made to him (whether before or after the passing of this Act) wholly or mainly for a purpose for which a loan could under this section be made to him by the Corporation;

( f ) to any person (other than a co-operative society) for the purpose of paying-off a loan which was originally made to him before the passing of this Act wholly or mainly 'for the purpose of purchasing land for agricultural purposes;

( g ) to any co-operative society (being a co-operative society to which a loan could be made under this section by the Corporation) for the purpose of paying-off a loan made to such society (whether before or after the) passing of this Act) wholly or mainly for a purpose for which a loan could under this section be made to such society by the Corporation.

(2) The memorandum and articles of association of the Corporation shall also be so framed and expressed that the persons to whom and the purposes for which the Corporation shall be entitled and authorised to lend or advance money as stated in such memorandum and articles in pursuance of this section may be varied (whether by extension, restriction, or otherwise) from time to time by the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture at their joint discretion by orders made by them jointly, but so that such persons and purposes shall not by any such order be extended so as to include—

( a ) any person who is not engaged or about to engage in agriculture or in a business or enterprise of an agricultural character or calculated directly or indirectly to benefit primarily persons engaged in agriculture, or

( b ) any person to whom the Corporation is expressly forbidden by this section to make a loan or advance, or

( c ) any purpose which is not directly or indirectly related to or concerned with agriculture.

Every order made by the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture under this sub-section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and unless either such House shall, within twenty-one days after the first day on which such House sits after such order is laid before it, pass a resolution annulling such order such order shall come into operation at the expiration of twenty-one days from whichever of the following days is the later that is to say the first day on which Dáil Eireann sits after such order is laid before it or the first day on which Seanad Eireann sits after such order is laid before it.

(3) The Corporation shall not make any loan or advance any money to—

( a ) any co-operative society the objects of which do not include at least one of the following objects, that is to say, the giving of agricultural credit, or the production or the marketing of agricultural produce, or the sale of agricultural machinery or implements or manures, feeding stuffs, seeds, or other requisites of agricultural production or marketing, or the production and distribution or the distribution only of power and light mainly to farmers, or

( b ) any co-operative society which at the time of the making of the loan or advance carries on the business of selling by retail any goods which are neither produced by that society or its members nor are requisites of agricultural production or marketing, or

( c ) the chairman or any director of the Corporation.

(4) So long as any portion of a loan or advance made by the Corporation to a co-operative society remains owing to the Corporation, such society shall not give or continue financial assistance to any co-operative society or company, engaged in or carrying on the business of selling by retail any goods which are neither produced by that co-operative society or its members or by that company nor are requisites of agricultural production or marketing and shall not itself engage in or carry on any such business, and if any such society contravenes the provisions of this sub-section the whole of the loan or advance so made to it by the Corporation shall (notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary) forthwith become due and payable by it to the Corporation.

(5) Where the goods sold by a co-operative society are mainly goods produced by that society or its members, any similar goods occasionally sold by such society may for the purposes of this section be deemed to have been so produced although in fact produced by, and purchased by the society from, other persons.

(6) The Corporation shall not discount or purchase any promissory note, bill of exchange, or other negotiable instrument which was made by a person to whom the Corporation is expressly forbidden by this section to lend or advance money or which was made otherwise than for the purpose of obtaining for the maker thereof or for any other person money for expenditure on a purpose for which a loan or advance could lawfully be made by the Corporation to such maker or person but this sub-section shall not apply to or prevent the investment of moneys in the purchase of bills, notes or other negotiable instruments made by the Minister for Finance or by the British Treasury.

(7) References in this section to the lending or advancing of money shall not be construed as including the investment of moneys in the purchase of stocks, shares, bonds or debentures quoted on the Stock Exchange in Dublin or on the Stock Exchange in London or the subscription for stocks, shares, bonds or debentures intended to be so quoted.

13.—The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Corporation shall be so framed and expressed that—

( a ) the Corporation shall not be entitled to receive deposits of money or deposits of securities for safe-keeping and management from any persons except co-operative societies, and

( b ) that the Corporation shall not be entitled to receive deposits of money repayable on less than thirty days notice or on demand or against cheques.

14.—The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Corporation shall be so framed as to authorise the Corporation to borrow money on the security of debentures or debenture stock issued by it in accordance with the usual practice of limited companies but subject to the limitation that the amount at any time owing by the Corporation on the security of such debentures or debenture stock shall not exceed the amount of the paid-up capital of the Corporation at that time.

15.—(1) The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Corporation shall be so framed as to authorise the Corporation to borrow money on the security of certificates of charge issued by it and shall contain in relation to the issue of such certificates the provisions set forth in the Schedule to this Act or other provisions to the same effect and may also contain such further provisions (not inconsistent with the said provisions set forth in the said Schedule) in relation to the issue of such certificates as may be thought necessary or proper.

(2) Whenever the Corporation proposes to issue a series of certificates of charge and the Minister is satisfied as a result of such inquiry, audit, and investigation as he may think proper to make that all conditions precedent to the issue of such series of certificates have been duly performed the Minister may, subject to the limitations hereinafter mentioned, guarantee in such form and manner as he may think proper the due payment by the Corporation in accordance with the terms of such certificates of the principal moneys and the interest thereon secured by such certificates.

(3) The total amount borrowed by the Corporation on the security of certificates of charge guaranteed by the Minister under this section in any one year shall not exceed one million pounds and the total amount owing at any one time by the Corporation on the security of certificates of charge guaranteed by the Minister under this section shall not exceed seven million five hundred thousand pounds.

(4) Section 93 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, shall apply to certificates of charge issued by the Corporation as if such certificates were debentures and for the purpose of such application but no other purpose a series of certificates of charge shall be deemed to be a series of debentures.

(5) A trustee may, unless expressly forbidden by the instrument (if any) creating the trust, invest any trust funds in his hands, whether at the time in a state of investment or not, in any certificate of charge guaranteed by the Minister under this section.

16.—(1) In addition to any return required by the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924, to be forwarded by a company to the registrar of companies, the Corporation shall furnish to the registrar of companies such other returns at such times and in such form as the Minister may by order prescribe.

(2) The provisions of sub-section (5) of section 26 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, shall apply to a default by the Corporation in complying with the requirements of any order made by the Minister under this section, in like manner as that sub-section applies to a default by a company in complying with the requirements of the said section 26.

17.—The Corporation shall keep all such accounts and other records and in such form as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under this section.

18.—No stamp duty shall be payable on any transfer of shares of the Corporation or of debentures, debenture stock, or certificates of charge issued by the Corporation.

19.—(1) A copy of every joint order made under this Act by the Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture in relation to the persons to whom and the purposes for which the Corporation shall be entitled and authorised to lend or advance money or the class or classes of securities against which certificates of charge may be issued by the Corporation shall, within fifteen days from the date on which such order has come into force, be printed and forwarded to the registrar of companies, who shall record the same.

(2) A copy of every order to which the foregoing sub-section applies and which is for the time being in force shall be embodied in or annexed to every copy of the memorandum and articles of association of the Corporation issued after the date on which such order has come into force.

20.—(1) The Minister may hold for so long as he thinks fit the shares of the Corporation subscribed for by him under this Act and may as and when he thinks fit sell all or any of such shares, but shall not so sell any such share at a price less than the amount for the time being paid up thereon.

(2) The net proceeds of every sale by the Minister of shares of the Corporation held by him shall be paid into the Exchequer.

(3) All dividends and other moneys received by the Minister in respect of shares of the Corporation subscribed for and held by him shall be paid into the Exchequer.

(4) The Minister may, so long as he holds shares of the Corporation, exercise all or any of the rights and powers from time to time exercisable by the holder of such shares, and where such rights or powers are exercisable by attorney the Minister may if he so thinks proper exercise such rights or powers by his attorney.

21.—(1) All moneys required to meet—

( a ) payments required to be made by the Minister to the Corporation in respect of shares of the Corporation subscribed for by him under this Act, or

( b ) sums required by this Act to be provided and paid by the Minister to the liquidator in the winding-up of the Corporation, or

( c ) sums required by this Act to be advanced by the Minister to the Corporation for or towards the payment of dividends to members of the Corporation, or

( d ) sums which become payable under any guarantee given under this Act by the Minister in respect of the moneys secured by a series of certificates of charge issued by the Corporation,

shall be charged on and paid out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

(2) The Minister may, for the purpose of providing for the payment of sums charged on the Central Fund under this section, or for the repayment to that Fund of all or any part of the sums so advanced, or for paying off any securities issued under this section so far as such payment is not otherwise provided for, borrow money by means of the issue of such Securities as he thinks proper, and all sums so borrowed shall be paid into the Exchequer.

(3) The principal of and interest on all securities issued under this section shall be charged on and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

(4) All moneys recovered by the Minister from the Corporation in repayment of or as interest on moneys advanced by him to the Corporation for or towards the payment of dividends to the members of the Corporation or in repayment of or as interest on moneys paid by the Minister under any guarantee given by him under this Act in respect of the moneys secured by a series of certificates of charge issued by the Corporation shall be paid into the Exchequer.

22.—(1) Any person who for the purpose of obtaining for himself or any other person or any body of persons corporate or un-incorporate a loan or advance of money from the Corporation wilfully makes whether verbally or in writing a statement which is to his knowledge false or misleading shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable on conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds or in the case of an individual and at the discretion of the court to penal servitude for three years or imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years.

(2) Every person who, having obtained a loan or advance of money from the Corporation on the terms that such money shall be applied by him for a specified purpose, fails to apply such money for such purpose shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable on conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds or in the case of an individual and at the discretion of the court to imprisonment for any term not exceeding twelve months.

PART III CHATTEL MORTGAGES

23.—(1) In this Act—

the expression "chattel mortgage" means an instrument under seal made between a farmer of the one part and the Corporation or a recognised bank of the other part whereby the farmer in consideration of moneys advanced to him by the mortgagee covenants with the mortgagee to repay such moneys with interest and charges in favour of the mortgagee either specific farming stock or (by way of floating charge) the farming stock from time to time on his farm or both specific farming stock and the farming stock from time to time on his farm with the repayment of the said moneys and interest;

the expression "specific chattel mortgage" means a chattel mortgage whereby a charge on specific farming stock is created;

the expression "floating chattel mortgage" means a chattel mortgage whereby a floating charge on the farming stock from time to time on a farm is created;

a chattel mortgage whereby both a charge on specific farming stock and a floating charge on the farming stock from time to time on a farm are created is included in the expression "specific chattel mortgage" in so far as a charge on specific farming stock is thereby created and is included in the expression "floating chattel mortgage" in so far as such floating charge is thereby created;

the expression "farming stock" means and includes animals and birds of every kind reared or kept for profit, the produce of such animals and birds, draught animals of every kind, agricultural machinery and implements, and agricultural crops whether growing in or severed from the land;

the words "mortgagor" and "mortgagee" when used in relation to a chattel mortgage mean respectively the farmer by whom and the Corporation or recognised bank to whom such chattel mortgage is made;

the expression "recognised bank" means a bank which is for the time being appointed by the Minister to be a recognised bank for the purposes of this Part of this Act.

(2) An instrument shall not be excluded from being a chattel mortgage by reason only of one or more persons (in addition to the mortgagor and the mortgagee) being a party or parties thereto as surety or sureties only.

(3) References in this Act to farming stock in relation to a chattel mortgage shall be construed as referring only to farming stock which is the absolute property of the farmer by whom such chattel mortgage is made.

24.—The Minister may if he so thinks fit on the application of any bank appoint such bank to be a recognised bank for the purposes of this part of this Act, and whenever the Minister so appoints a bank to be a recognised bank he shall forthwith give to the Minister for Justice notice of such appointment.

25.—(1) As soon as conveniently may be after the formation and registration of the Corporation a register of chattel mortgages shall be set up in every Circuit Court Office and shall be thenceforward there kept and maintained in accordance with this section and the regulations made thereunder.

(2) Subject to compliance with the conditions prescribed by or under this section for the registration of a chattel mortgage every chattel mortgage shall be capable of being registered within seven days and no longer after its date in the register of chattel mortgages maintained under this section in the Circuit Court Office serving the area in which the farm of the mortgagor is situate or, where such farm is situate in two or more areas served by separate circuit Court Offices, in each of the several registers of chattel mortgages maintained under this section in the said Circuit Court Offices respectively.

(3) Any person party to a chattel mortgage (whether as mortgagor, mortgagee, or surety) or the legal representative of any such person may register such chattel mortgage within seven days and no longer after its date in any register of chattel mortgages in which such chattel mortgage is capable of being registered under this section and such mortgagee or, with the consent in writing of the mortgagee, such mortgagor or surety or his legal representative may at any time remove such chattel mortgage from any such register.

(4) Whenever the principal moneys and interest secured by a chattel mortgage are fully repaid the mortgagee shall forth with remove such chattel mortgage from every register of chattel mortgages in which it is registered under this section.

(5) No chattel mortgage shall be of any force or effect unless or until it is duly registered in accordance with this section and the regulations made thereunder in the register or every register (as the case may be) of chattel mortgages in which it is capable of being registered under this section and a chattel mortgage so registered shall cease to be of any force or effect if and when it ceases to be duly registered in such register or every such register (as the case may be).

(6) The contents of any register of chattel mortgages maintained under this section shall not be published or disclosed nor shall any copies thereof or any part thereof be issued to any person save only and except that—

( a ) any person in the employment of the Corporation and duly authorised in writing in that behalf by the Corporation may at any time inspect and take copies of any such register or any part thereof; and

( b ) any person in the employment of a recognised bank and duly authorised in writing in that behalf by such bank may at any time inspect and take copies of any such register or any part thereof; and

( c ) an under-sheriff may at any time inspect the register of chattel mortgages maintained in a Circuit Court Office serving the area or any part of the area for which he is the under-sheriff; and

( d ) any person in the service of the State and duly authorised in writing in that behalf by the Minister or the Minister for Lands and Agriculture may at any time inspect and take copies of any such register or any part thereof; and

( e ) an officer employed in a Circuit Court Office and performing duties formerly performed by the under-sheriff may at any time inspect the register of chattel mortgages maintained in such Circuit Court Office; and

( f ) whenever the Supreme Court or any Judge of the High Court or the Circuit Court directs that a copy of the portion of any such register relating to any particular chattel mortgage or alleged chattel mortgage be, furnished to them or him, such copy shall be so furnished accordingly and such Court or Judge may disclose or publish such copy or the contents thereof to such extent and in such manner and subject to such conditions as in their or his opinion justice may require.

(7) The High Court or the Circuit Court or the Supreme Court on appeal from the High Court may at any time cause any register of chattel mortgages maintained under this section to be rectified (whether by variation, addition, or omission) in such manner as justice may require.

(8) The Minister for Justice may by order make regulations in relation to all or any of the following matters, that is to say:—

( a ) the form and contents of the several registers of chattel mortgages maintained under this section;

( b ) the keeping and maintenance gene-rally of such registers;

( c ) the mode of registering a chattel mortgage in such registers and the evidence to be produced for the purpose of such registration of the due execution and stamping of such chattel mortgage;

( d ) with the consent of the Minister for Finance the fees to be charged and taken in respect of the registration of chattel mortgages in such registers, the removal of chattel mortgages from such registers, the inspection of such registers and any other matter relating to such registers;

( e ) the general preservation of the secrecy of such registers and in particular the evidence of authority to be produced by persons claiming to inspect or take copies of such registers.

(9) The expenses of carrying this section into effect shall, to such extent as shall be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas.

26.—(1) A specific chattel mortgage shall so long as it is duly registered under this Act and any moneys remain owing for principal or interest on the security thereof operate and have effect—

( a ) to confer on the mortgagee the right whenever the principal moneys secured by the chattel mortgage or any part of such moneys or any payment of interest thereon is unpaid for seven days after the day appointed by the chattel mortgage for payment thereof to seize and remove from the custody of any person (other than a bona fide purchaser for value in money or money's worth without notice of the chattel mortgage) and from any place (other than land or premises belonging to such purchaser) all or any of the farming stock comprised in the chattel mortgage; and

( b ) to impose on the mortgagee the obligation to sell with all convenient speed all farming stock seized and removed by him under the chattel mortgage and to apply the proceeds of such sale in or towards the discharge of the principal moneys and interest secured by the chattel mortgage and to pay the surplus (if any) of such proceeds to the mortgagor or his legal representative or assignee; and

( c ) to prohibit the mortgagor from selling any farming stock comprised in the chattel mortgage without giving at least three days' previous notice in writing to the mortgagee of his intention to sell the same and from selling any of such farming stock for less than a fair and reasonable price; and

( d ) to impose on the mortgagor the obligation, whenever he sells any of the farming stock comprised in the chattel mortgage, of giving forthwith to the mortgagee notice in writing of such sale with such particulars thereof as the mortgagee may require and either of paying to the mortgagee the proceeds of such sale or so much thereof as may be necessary to discharge the principal moneys and interest owing on the security of the chattel mortgage or of applying such proceeds in such other manner as may have been previously authorised by the mortgagee; and

( e ) to imply a covenant on the part of the mortgagor his heirs executors and administrators with the mortgagee to pay to the mortgagee the principal moneys and interest secured by the chattel mortgage at the times and in the manner appointed by the chattel mortgage; and

( f ) to impose on the mortgagor the obligation to preserve and keep safe the farming stock comprised therein and (save as may be otherwise authorised by the chattel mortgage or the mortgagee or may be necessary for any intended lawful sale) not to remove such farming stock from his farm.

(2) If and whenever the mortgagor commits a breach (whether of commission or of omission) of any provision implied in a specified chattel mortgage by virtue of this section (other than the covenant for payment of the principal moneys and interest secured by such chattel mortgage) the whole of the principal moneys secured by such chattel mortgage shall become and be forthwith payable notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in such chattel mortgage.

27.—(1) A floating chattel mortgage shall, so long as it is duly registered under this Act and any moneys remain owing, for principal or interest on the security thereof, and it has not become fixed as hereinafter provided, operate and have effect—

( a ) to create an ambulatory and shifting charge of the principal moneys and interest secured thereby on all farming stock from time to time on the farm to which the chattel mortgage relates (hereinafter referred to as the farm); and

( b ) to prohibit the mortgagor from selling any of the farming stock at any time on the farm otherwise than in the ordinary course of farming; and

( c ) to impose on the mortgagor the obligation of maintaining the farming stock from time to time on the farm at a level of value equivalent (as near as may be having regard to the ordinary course of farming) to the value of the farming stock on the farm at the date of the chattel mortgage; and

( d ) whenever the mortgagor sells any of the farming stock for the time being on the farm to impose on him the obligation of paying such (if any) part of the proceeds of such sale as the mortgagee shall require to the mortgagee in reduction or discharge of the principal moneys secured by the chattel mortgage and any interest due thereon and to confer on the mortgagor the right to pay the whole or any part of such proceeds of sale to the mortgagee in reduction or discharge of such principal moneys and interest.

(2) Whenever the principal moneys secured by a floating chattel mortgage or any part of such moneys remain unpaid for one month after the date appointed by the chattel mortgage for payment thereof or some interest secured by a floating chattel mortgage is in arrear and unpaid for two months after becoming due or there has been a breach (whether of commission or omission) by the mortgagor of some provision contained in a floating chattel mortgage or implied therein by virtue of this section (other than a covenant for payment of the principal moneys or interest secured thereby), the mortgagee may serve on the mortgagor a notice in writing declaring that such floating chattel mortgage has become fixed and thereupon such floating chattel mortgage shall become and be fixed within the meaning of this section.

(3) When a floating chattel mortgage has become fixed such chattel mortgage shall thenceforward operate and have effect as a specific chattel mortgage of all farming stock which is on the farm at the time of the service of the notice declaring such chattel mortgage to have become fixed and the provisions of this Act in relation to the operation and effect of a specific chattel mortgage shall apply accordingly.

(4) A floating chattel mortgage shall so long as it is duly registered under this Act operate and have effect to imply a covenant on the part of the mortgagor, his heirs, executors, and administrators with the mortgagee to pay to the mortgagee the principal moneys and interest secured by the chattel mortgage at the times and in the manner appointed by the chattel mortgage.

28.—(1) Chattel mortgages shall have priority in accordance with the times at which they are respectively registered or first registered (as the case may be) under this Act.

(2) A specific chattel mortgage of any farming stock which is at the date of such chattel mortgage on a farm to which a prior floating chattel mortgage then applies shall be void and of no effect so long but so long only as any principal moneys or interest remain owing on the security of such floating chattel mortgage.

(3) A bill of sale made before the passing of this Act shall if and so long as it continues to be valid and enforceable under the Bills of Sale Acts, 1879 and 1883 have priority over a chattel mortgage.

(4) Farming stock comprised in a specific chattel mortgage or in a floating chattel mortgage which has become fixed shall not be deemed to be in the possession, order or disposition of the mortgagor within the meaning of the Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act, 1857 or any Act altering or amending that Act.

29.—(1) It, shall be an obligation on every person (hereinafter called the debtor) who seeks from another person (hereinafter called the creditor) the grant or continuance of credit to disclose in writing to the creditor (if required in writing by the creditor so to do) whether there is or is not a chattel mortgage subsisting in respect of any of the debtor's farming stock and the particulars of every (if any) such chattel mortgage.

(2) No creditor shall disclose any information furnished to him by the debtor in pursuance of this section save in so far as such disclosure may be necessary or proper for the purposes of a prosecution under this section or for the institution or conduct of legal proceedings for the recovery of moneys due by the debtor to the creditor.

(3) Every person who shall make in writing a statement in pursuance of this section which is to his knowledge false or misleading in any material respect and every person who shall in contravention of this section disclose any information furnished to him in pursuance of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds.

30.—(1) Whenever a farmer (hereinafter referred to as the intending mortgagor) agrees to make and the Corporation or a recognised bank (hereinafter referred to as the intending mortgagee) agrees to take a chattel mortgage (hereinafter referred to as the proposed chattel mortgage) the intending mortgagor shall furnish to the intending mortgagee a statement in writing, stating whether he is or is not then indebted to the Corporation or any recognised bank (hereinafter referred to as the existing creditor) and, if he is so indebted, the name of the existing creditor.

(2) If in such statement the intending mortgagor states that he is so indebted the intending mortgagee shall send by post to the existing creditor a notice in writing stating the intention of the intending mortgagee to take a chattel mortgage from the intending mortgagor, and if either the intending mortgagee fails so to send such notice or the proposed chattel mortgage is made within seven days after the day on which such notice is so sent the proposed chattel mortgage shall be deemed to be fraudulent and void as against the existing creditor.

(3) If a chattel mortgage is made without such statement being furnished by the intending mortgagor to the intending mortgagee and the mortgagor was at the date of such chattel mortgage indebted to the Corporation or a recognised bank such chattel mortgage shall if the intending mortgagor was so indebted to the Corporation and the Corporation is not the mortgagee be deemed to be fraudulent and void as against the Corporation and shall if the intending mortgagor was so indebted to any recognised bank be deemed to be fraudulent and void as against every recognised bank (other than the mortgagee) to which the intending mortgagor was so indebted.

(4) Every person who shall make a statement in writing in pursuance of this section which is to his knowledge false or misleading in any material respect shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and be liable on conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds, or at the discretion of the court, to penal servitude for three years or imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years.

31.—(1) A chattel mortgage shall not prevent or restrict the lawful seizure of any farming stock comprised therein or affected thereby by a landlord distraining for rent or a duly authorised officer distraining or levying under the Income Tax Acts or a rate collector distraining for rates or the lawful seizure and sale of any such farming stock under an execution order issued for the enforcement of a judgment or order for the payment of moneys due or payable to or for the benefit of the Central Fund or the repayment of advances made out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas or the interest on such advances or of moneys due or payable to the Irish Land Commission under the Land Purchase Acts or to a rate collector in respect of rates levied by the council of a county, a county or other borough, or an urban district or the commissioners of a town, or to a landlord in respect of rent.

(2) Save as is provided in the foregoing sub-section no farming stock comprised in or affected by a chattel mortgage shall be seized or sold under an execution order, unless before such seizure the creditor has paid to the under-sheriff or county registrar executing such execution order the full amount of the principal moneys and interest then owing and unpaid on the security of such chattel mortgage.

(3) Whenever a creditor pays under the foregoing sub-section to an under-sheriff or county registrar the full amount owing on the security of a chattel mortgage, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

( a ) the under-sheriff or county registrar shall pay such amount to the mortgagee and the mortgagee shall accept such amount in discharge of the moneys secured by such chattel mortgage notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in such chattel mortgage and in particular notwithstanding that such moneys are not then due or payable, and

( b ) the said amount shall be added to the debt for which execution is leviable under the execution order, and such execution order shall have effect accordingly.

(4) For the purpose of enabling the creditor to take advantage of the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3) of this section, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

( a ) whenever a creditor requires an execution order to be executed against any farming stock the under-sheriff or county registrar shall inspect the appropriate register of chattel mortgages and if on such inspection such farming stock is found to be comprised in or affected by a chattel mortgage such under-sheriff or county registrar shall inform the creditor of the existence of such chattel mortgage the date thereof and the name and address of the mortgagee, and

( b ) the mortgagee shall on demand made by the creditor furnish to the creditor a statement of the full amount of the principal moneys and interest then owing and unpaid on the security of the chattel mortgage.

(5) In this section the expression "execution order" has the same meaning as it has in the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1926 (No. 18 of 1926) and the word " creditor " means the person at whose instance an execution order is issued.

32.—Every bill of sale of farming stock (whether including or not including any other chattels) made after the passing of this Act shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Bills of Sale Acts, 1879 and 1883, be void and of no effect and be incapable of being registered under those Acts.

SCHEDULE

CERTIFICATES OF CHARGE.

1. Whenever the Corporation holds, as security for money advanced by it, first mortgages on land to the nominal amount of not less than one hundred thousand pounds, the directors may issue a series of certificates of charge against some or all of such mortgages.

2. The Minister and the Minister for Lands and Agriculture may if and whenever they so think fit by order made by them jointly authorise certificates of charge to be issued against an class or classes of securities specified in such order and may by such order impose such restrictions as they think fit as to the proportion or amount of any particular class of security (including first mortgages on land) to be included in the securities against which a series of certificates of charge may be issued, and may also by such order authorise certificates of charge to be issued although the Corporation does not hold as security for money advanced by first mortgages on land to the nominal amount of one hundred thousand pounds.

3. Certificates of charge may be issued under that name or under any other name which the directors think suitable and a series of certificates of charge shall consist of certificates of such total nominal amount as the directors with the approval of the Minister shall think proper divided into certificates of ten pounds each or of such other amount or different amounts as the directors with the approval of the Minister shall think proper.

4. Before issuing a series of certificates of charge the directors shall place under the control of trustees, in such manner by transfer, sub-mortgage, deposit, or otherwise as shall be approved by the Minister, securities (in this Schedule referred to as authorised securities) against which certificates of charge may be issued by the Corporation under or by virtue of paragraphs 1 or 2 of this Schedule held by the Corporation as security for advances made by it to a nominal amount not less than the nominal amount of such series of certificates.

5. The number of the trustees shall be such even number as the directors think fit and one-half of the trustees shall always be nominated by the Minister and the other half of the trustees shall in the first instance be nominated by the directors and after the issue of the series of certificates shall be nominated as vacancies occur by the holders of such certificates.

6. The said authorised securities shall be so placed under the control of the trustees that the trustees shall hold the same upon trust for the Minister and the holders of the certificates issued against such authorised securities and that the trustees shall have all necessary and proper powers for raising for the Minister and such holders by means of such authorised securities the amount of the principal and interest of such certificates and also power when any such certificates are paid off in full by the Corporation to release to the Corporation so much of such authorised securities as shall be equal in nominal amount to the amount of the certificates so paid off and also power at any time at the request of the directors to release to the Corporation any of such authorised securities in exchange for an equal amount of similar authorised securities.

7. Every certificate of charge shall be expressed and shall operate—

( a ) to bind the Corporation to pay to the holder of the certificate the principal amount thereof within a period of years (not exceeding forty) named therein and to pay interest on such principal amount at the rate named therein with the consent of the Minister but not exceeding by more than three per cent per annum the average (ascertained in accordance with regulations made in that behalf by the Minister) rate of interest paid by the leading banks in Saorstát Eireann on moneys held by them on deposit account during such period of twelve months commencing not earlier than fifteen months before the issue of the certificates as shall be appointed by regulations made in that behalf by the Minister;

( b ) to confer on the holder of the certificate the full benefit of the trusts on which the said authorised securities are placed under the control of the trustees;

( c ) to confer on the holder of the certificate the benefit of the guarantee given by the Minister in respect thereof under this Act.

8. Before issuing a series of certificates of charge the directors shall submit the same to the Minister for the purpose of receiving from him such guarantee as he is authorised by this Act to give.

9. If and when such guarantee is given by the Minister the directors may issue such certificates of charge to the public in such manner and on such terms as they think fit subject to the restriction that no such certificate shall be issued at a less price than the amount of the principal sum secured thereby.

10. A series of certificates of charge shall as against the authorised securities held by the trustees as security therefor rank in priority to any debentures or debenture stock issued by the Corporation and to all other debts and liabilities of the Corporation but as against any other assets of the Corporation shall rank as simple contract debts.