SYDNEY CORPORATION
(COMMISSIONERS) ACT.
Act No. 43, 1927.
A n A c t t o p r o v i d e for t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n d u r i n g a
l i m i t e d p e r i o d of t h e C i t y o f S y d n e y b y C o m ­
m i s s i o n e r s , a n d for t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n of t h e
previous administration thereof: to suspend
t h e o p e r a t i o n of c e r t a i n p r o v i s i o n s of t h e
S y d n e y C o r p o r a t i o n A c t , 1 9 0 2 , a n d of c e r t a i n
other Acts; to amend that Act and certain
other
A c t s ; a n d for p u r p o s e s
connected
therewith.
[Assented to, 28th November,
1927.]
B
E it enacted b y t h e K i n g ' s M o s t Excellent Majesty,
b y a n d with t h e advice a n d consent of t h e Legis­
lative Council and Legislative A s s e m b l y of N e w S o u t h
W a l e s in P a r l i a m e n t assembled, and by t h e a u t h o r i t y of
t h e same, as follows :—
1 . This Act m a y be cited as t h e " S y d n e y Corpora­
tion (Commissioners) A c t , 1 9 2 7 , " a n d shall be read
a n d c o n s t r u e d w i t h t h e S y d n e y Corporation Act, 1902,
as a m e n d e d by s u b s e q u e n t A c t s , w h i c h A c t as so
a m e n d e d is in tins A c t referred to as t h e P r i n c i p a l Act.
2 . (1) From a d a t e to be a p p o i n t e d b y t h e G o v e r n o r
a n d notified in t h e G o v e r n m e n t G a z e t t e (in t h i s A c t
called t h e a p p o i n t e d day) t h e City of Sydney shall,
d u r i n g t h e period for w h i c h t h i s A c t r e m a i n s in force,
be a d m i n i s t e r e d by Commissioners.
( 2 ) T h e Commissioners m a y , in t h e n a m e a n d on
behalf of t h e corporation styled t h e M u n i c i p a l Council
of Sydney, exercise any power or a u t h o r i t y of t h e
corporation or of t h e council consisting of t h e m a y o r
a n d a l d e r m e n , a n d shall c a r r y o u t a n d perform all t h e
d u t i e s a n d obligations of t h e corporation a n d council.
This
This subsection shall e x t e n d to all powers, a u t h o r i t i e s ,
duties, a n d obligations conferred or imposed upon t h e
c o r p o r a t i o n or t h e council b y a n y of t h e A c t s m e n t i o n e d
in t h e F i r s t S c h e d u l e to t h i s A c t or b y a n y o t h e r A c t
or b y a n y r e g u l a t i o n by-law or i n s t r u m e n t or b y a n y
t r u s t or otherwise, a n d in p a r t i c u l a r a n d w i t h o u t limit­
i n g t h e generality of t h e foregoing or a n y o t h e r provision
of t h i s A c t , t h e Commissioners m a y exercise a n y of t h e
following powers, t h a t is to say, t h e y m a y —
(a) m a k e , levy, a n d collect rates, tolls, c h a r g e s , a n d
imposts u n d e r t h e P r i n c i p a l A c t or a n y o t h e r
Act;
(b) m a k e b y - l a w s r e p e a l i n g , v a r y i n g , or in s u b s t i t u ­
tion for a n y b y - l a w m a d e by t h e Council or
t h e Commissioners ;
(c) exercise t h e franchise conferred on t h e Council
b y t h e F i r e Brigades Act, 1 9 0 9 - 1 9 2 7 ;
(d) elect a n eligible person as a m e m b e r of t h e
W a t e r , Sewerage a n d D r a i n a g e Board in a n y
case in w h i c h b u t for this A c t t h e a l d e r m e n of
t h e City of S y d n e y m i g h t so e l e c t ;
(e) pay o u t of t h e City F u n d any expense i n c u r r e d
in t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h i s A c t .
T h e exercise by t h e Commissioners of a n y power or
a u t h o r i t y shall be subject to a n y l i m i t a t i o n or condition
imposed by a n y A c t or by a n y r e g u l a t i o n u n d e r t h i s A c t .
(3) T h e Commissioners shall be t h e b o a r d for
t h e purposes of P a r t I of t h e E l e c t r i c L i g h t i n g a n d
Gas Emergency Act, 1917.
(4) N o sale of real e s t a t e shall be m a d e by t h e
Commissioners save w i t h t h e previous a p p r o v a l of t h e
Governor.
(5) T h e Chief Commissioner or his d e p u t y m a y
exercise a n y power or a u t h o r i t y a n d shall p e r f o r m a n y
d u t y of t h e L o r d M a y o r .
(6) T h e r e shall n o t be a n y election of a l d e r m e n
or L o r d M a y o r for t h e city in t h e m o n t h of D e c e m b e r ,
one t h o u s a n d n i n e h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y - s e v e n , or w h i l e
t h i s A c t r e m a i n s in force.
T h e L o r d M a y o r a n d a l d e r m e n in office a t t h e
c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h i s A c t s h a l l c o n t i n u e to hold office
until the appointed day and no longer.
(7)
(7) T h e c o r p o r a t i o n shall c o n t i n u e n o t w i t h s t a n d ­
i n g t h a t d u r i n g t h e period for which this Act r e m a i n s in
force t h e r e are v a c a i u e s in t h e offices of L o r d M a y o r
and a l d e r m e n .
(8) A n y reference in any Act, r e g u l a t i o n , by-law,
or i n s t r u m e n t to t h e Council or to t h e M a y o r a n d
a l d e r m e n or to t h e a l d e r m e n of the city shall he d e e m e d
to he a reference to t h e Commissioners, a n d any such
reference to t h e M a y o r or to the Lord Mayor of t h e
city shall he deemed to he a reference to t h e Chief
C o m m i s s i o n e r or his d e p u t y .
(9) T h e A c t s m e n t i o n e d in t h e Second S c h e d u l e
to this A c t are to t h e e x t e n t t h e r e i n expressed hereby
suspended d u r i n g the period for which this A c t r e m a i n s
in force.
3 . (1) T h e Governor m a y appoint by commission
u n d e r t h e Seal of t h e Stare t h r e e fit and proper persons
to he Commissioners for c a r r y i n g into effect this A c t
a n d m a y a p p o i n t one of such Commissioners to he
Chief Commissioner.
(2) E a c h Commissioner shall hold office u n t i l
t h e thirty-first day of December, one t h o u s a n d nine
h u n d r e d and t w e n t y - n i n e .
(3) T h e Commissioners shall be paid for t h e i r
services o u t of t h e City Fund salaries a t rates fixed by
t h e Governor.
(4) I n case of t h e illness, suspension, or absence
of t h e Chief Commissioner t h e Governor m a y appoint
as d e p u t y of t h e Chief Commissioner a n y other Com­
missioner who shall, d u r i n g such illness, suspension, or
a b s e n c e of t h e Chief Commissioner, exercise his powers
a n d p e r f o r m his d u t i e s .
I n case of t h e illness, suspension, or absence of a n y
Commissioner, t h e G o v e r n o r m a y a p p o i n t some person
to a c t as t h e d e p u t y of such Commissioner d u r i n g
such illness, suspension, or absence, a n d every person so
a p p o i n t e d shall, while so a c t i n g , have t h e powers a n d
perform t h e duties of such Commissioner.
W h e r e a Commissioner is appointed in p u r s u a n c e of
t h i s section t o a c t as d e p u t y of t h e Chief C o m m i s s i o n e r
t h e G o v e r n o r m a y a p p o i n t a person to be d e p u t y of such
o t h e r Commissioner whilst so a c t i n g .
T h e salary of a d e p u t y shall be fixed by t h e Governor
a n d be paid o u t of t h e City
Fund.
(5)
(5) E a c h Commissioner or d e p u t y before e n t e r i n g
u p o n t h e d u t i e s of Ids office shall m a k e a n d subscribe
before t h e E x e c u t i v e Council a n o a t h of allegiance to
H i s Majesty a n d shall m a k e a n d s u b s c r i b e the following
declaration of office :—
I,
h a v i n g been a p p o i n t e d Chief
Commissioner (or as the case may be) for t h e City
of S y d n e y , do hereby declare t h a t I will t r u l y a n d
faithfully fulfil t h e duties of t h a t office according
to t h e best of m y j u d g m e n t a n d ability.
4 . (1) Any Commissioner m a y be suspended from his
office by t h e G o v e r n o r for m i s b e h a v i o u r or i n c o m p e t e n c e ,
b u t shall n o t be removed from office e x c e p t as h e r e i n ­
after provided.
T h e M i n i s t e r shall cause to be laid before P a r l i a m e n t
a full s t a t e m e n t of t h e g r o u n d s of suspension w i t h i n
seven days after s u c h suspension if P a r l i a m e n t is in
session a n d actually s i t t i n g , a n d w h e n P a r l i a m e n t is n o t
in session or n o t a c t u a l l y s i t t i n g , w i t h i n seven d a y s
after t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h e n e x t session or s i t t i n g .
T h e Commissioner so suspended u n d e r t h i s section
shall be restored to office unless e a c h H o u s e of P a r l i a ­
m e n t , w i t h i n t w e n t y - o n e d a y s from t h e t i m e w h e n s u c h
s t a t e m e n t has been laid before it, declares b y resolution
t h a t t h e Commissioner o u g h t to be removed from office,
a n d if each H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t within t h e said t i m e
so declares, t h e Commissioner shall be removed by t h e
Governor accordingly.
(2) A Commissioner shall be deemed to hold a civic
office w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g of t h e P r i n c i p a l A c t , b u t a
person w h o is a director of a b a n k i n g c o m p a n y w i t h which
t h e council does business shall n o t on t h a t a c c o u n t alone
be deemed to infringe t h e provisions of section t w e n t y four of t h a t A c t .
(3) A Commissioner shall be d e e m e d to h a v e
v a c a t e d his office —
(a) if h e b e c o m e s disqualified for a civic office ; or
(b) if he e n g a g e s d u r i n g his t e r m of office, w i t h o u t
the previous c o n s e n t of t h e Governor, in a n y
e m p l o y m e n t outside t h e d u t i e s of his office ; or
(c) if he becomes b a n k r u p t or c o m p o u n d s w i t h his
creditors, or m a k e s a n a s s i g n m e n t of his
p r o p e r t y or of his salary for t h e i r b e n e f i t ; or
(d)
(d) if he a b s e n t s himself from d u t y for a period of
fourteen consecutive days, except o n leave
g r a n t e d by t h e Governor (which leave h e is
h e r e b y authorised to g r a n t ) , or becomes i n c a p ­
able of p e r f o r m i n g his duties.
( 4 ) A n y reference in this section to t h e Chief
Commissioner or to a Commissioner shall e x t e n d to his
deputy.
5 . (1) T h e q u o r u m at a n y m e e t i n g of t h e Com­
missioners shall be two.
(2) N o proceeding of t h e Commissioners shall be
invalid or illegal in consequence only of t h e fact t h a t
t h e r e was, a t t h e t i m e of s u c h proceeding, a v a c a n c y in
t h e n u m b e r of t h e Commissioners.
(3) T h e Chief Commissioner, or in his absence his
d e p u t y , shall convene a m e e t i n g of t h e Commissioners a t
least once a m o n t h .
A n y m a t t e r c o n n e c t e d with the city m a y be s u b m i t t e d
by a Commissioner a t a m e e t i n g of t h e Commissioners
for t h e i r consideration.
( 4 ) T h e Chief Commissioner shall preside as
c h a i r m a n a t a n y m e e t i n g of t h e Commissioners, a n d in
his absence his d e p u t y shall so preside.
If t h e Chief Commissioner a n d his d e p u t y are both
absent, t h e Commissioner who is senior in a p p o i n t m e n t
or in case of e q u a l i t y of seniority the Commissioner
chosen by those p r e s e n t shall so preside.
(5) A t a n y m e e t i n g of t h e Commissioners a t
w h i c h t h e Chief Commissioner is present, he shall have
a deliberative vote, a n d in the event of a n e q u a l i t y of
v o t i n g , a second or casting vote.
If a t a n y m e e t i n g of t h e Commissioners at w h i c h the
Chief Commissioner is not p r e s e n t t h e Commissioners
p r e s e n t differ i n opinion upon a m a t t e r , t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n
of t h a t m a t t e r shall be postponed to t h e n e x t m e e t i n g of
t h e Commissioners.
(6) The Commissioners m a y by resolution b u t
subject to the a p p r o v a l of t h e G o v e r n o r and to such
conditions a n d qualifications as m a y bo prescribed in
t h e a p p r o v a l delegate to a n y one of their n u m b e r e i t h e r
generally or in a n y p a r t i c u l a r case a n y of t h e powers,
duties, or functions of t h e Commissioners, and may a t
any t i m e by resolution revoke any such delegation.
The
T h e G o v e r n o r may b y r e g u l a t i o n prescribe
powers a n d f u n c t i o n s w h i c h m a y be performed
carried o u t by a n y one Commissioner.
the
and
(7) A n y reference in t h i s section to t h e Chief
C o m m i s s i o n e r or to a Commissioner shall e x t e n d to his
deputy.
6 . (1) T h e Commissioners shall i n v e s t i g a t e s u c h
m a t t e r s in or connected with or r e l a t i n g to t h e previous
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e city as m a y a p p e a r to t h e m t o
r e q u i r e investigation, or as t h e Governor m a y direct t o
b e investigated, in order to a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r , a n d if so,
to w h a t e x t e n t t h e c o n d u c t in r e l a t i o n to a n y s u c h
m a t t e r of a n y person, w h e t h e r t h e holder of a civic
office or not, h a s been c o r r u p t dishonest or i m p r o p e r .
(2) T h e Commissioners m a y w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l
of t h e G o v e r n o r delegate a n y d u t y u n d e r t h i s section
to a n y one Commissioner or to a n y fit person.
(3) F o r t h e purposes of a n y investigation u n d e r
this section t h e Commissioners a n d a delegate shall
h a v e t h e powers a n d i m m u n i t i e s of a C o m m i s s i o n e r ,
a n d t h e Chief Commissioner shall h a v e t h e powers of a
c h a i r m a n , w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g of Division 1 of P a r t I I
of t h e R o y a l Commissions A c t , 1 9 2 3 , a n d t h e provisions
of t h a t A c t w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of section t h i r t e e n a n d
of Division 2 of P a r t I I shall m u t a t i s m u t a n d i s a p p l y
t o a n y witness or person s u m m o n e d b y or a p p e a r i n g
before t h e Commissioners or delegate.
7 . T h e Commissioner's shall once in each y e a r a n d
a t s u c h o t h e r t i m e s a n d in s u c h m a n n e r a n d f o r m as is
prescribed by r e g u l a t i o n or as t h e G o v e r n o r shall direct,
f u r n i s h full a n d t r u e reports of t h e i r proceedings a n d
a c c o u n t s of all m o n e y s raised a n d e x p e n d e d u n d e r t h e
provisions of t h i s A c t .
S u c h r e p o r t s a n d a c c o u n t s shall be laid before b o t h
H o u s e s of P a r l i a m e n t as soon thereafter as is p r a c t i c a b l e .
8 . (1) T h e G o v e r n o r m a y m a k e r e g u l a t i o n s p r e s c r i b ­
i n g all m a t t e r s r e q u i r e d or necessary or c o n v e n i e n t t o b e
prescribed for c a r r y i n g o u t or g i v i n g effect to t h i s A c t .
(2) T h e r e g u l a t i o n s s h a l l —
(a) be p u b l i s h e d in t h e G a z e t t e ;
(b) t a k e effect from t h e d a t e of p u b l i c a t i o n or
from a l a t e r d a t e to be specified in t h e r e g u l a ­
tions; and
(c)
(c) be laid before b o t h H o u s e s of P a r l i a m e n t
w i t h i n f o u r t e e n s i t t i n g d a y s after p u b l i c a t i o n
if P a r l i a m e n t is in session, a n d if n o t , t h e n
w i t h i n f o u r t e e n s i t t i n g days after t h e com­
m e n c e m e n t of t h e n e x t session.
( 3 ) If c i t h e r H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t passes a
resolution of w h i c h n o t i c e has been given at a n y t i m e
w i t h i n fifteen s i t t i n g days after t h e r e g u l a t i o n s h a v e
b e e n laid before s u c h H o u s e disallowing a n y r e g u l a t i o n
or p a r t thereof, such r e g u l a t i o n or p a r t s h a l l t h e r e u p o n
cease to h a v e effect.
9 . T h i s A c t shall r e m a i n in force u n t i l t h e t h i r t y first day of D e c e m b e r , one t h o u s a n d n i n e h u n d r e d a n d
twenty-nine.
SCHEDULES.
FIRST
No. of Act.
42 Vic. No. 25
60 Vic. No. 23
1902
1902
1905
1906
1908
1912
1916
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
35
39
39
16
27
8
12
1916 No. 6O
1910
1917
1917
1919
1920
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
76
2
22
II
22
1922 No. 39
1924 No. 7
1924 N o . 3 6
1925 N o . 18
SCHEDULE.
Short title.
... City of Sydney Improvement Act.
... Municipal Council of Sydney Electric Lighting
Act
Sydney Corporation Act, 1902.
Width of Streets and Lanes Act, 1902.
Sydney Corporation Amendment A c t , 1905,
Sydney Corporation A m e n d m e n t Act, 1900.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1908.
Sydney Corporation (Dwelling-houses) A c t , 1912.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) (No. 2) A c t ,
191G.
Sydney Corporation Amendment (Costs) Act,
1916.
Local Government (Amending) Act, 1910.
Electric Lighting and Gas Emergency Act, 1917.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1917.
Local Government Act, 1919 (section 522).
Municipal Council of Sydney Electric Lighting
(Amendment) A c t , 1920.
Sydney Corporation (Fish Markets) Act, 1922.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) A c t , 1921.
University and College Lands and Victoria Park
Act, 1924.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1925.
SECOND
SECOND
No. of Act.
Short title.
1902 .No. 35 ...
1903 No. 39 ...
1906 No. 16 ...
1908 No. 27 ...
1911 No. 23 ...
1915 N o . 37 ...
1915 No. 61 ...
1917 No. 22 ...
1921 No. 7
SCHEDULE.
...
E x t e n t of Suspension.
Sydney Corporation Act, 1902 ... Sections
9-23
both inclusive,
2 5 - 5 7 both in­
clusive, 6 7 - 7 3
both inclusive,
paragraphs (b)
(d) and (hh) of
subsection (1 )of
section 200, and
the
Third,
Fourth, Fifth,
Sixth, Seventh,
Eighth,
and
Ninth
Sched­
ules.
Sydney Corporation Amendment Section 4.
Act, 1903.
Sydney Corporation Amendment Section 14.
Act, 1900.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) Section 38.
Act, 1908.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) The whole.
Act, 1911.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) The whole.
Act, 1915
Sydney Corporation (Election of The whole.
Mayor) Act, 1915.
Sydney Corporation (Amendment) Sections 3 and 4.
Act, 1917.
(1)Sydney Corporation (Amendment) Paragraphs
(8)
both
in­
A c t , 1924.
clusive of sec­
tion 4,and para­
graph (a) of sec­
tion 6.
METROPOLITAN