Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act 1923 No 4

MAINTENANCE ORDERS (FACI­
LITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT)
ACT.
Act No. 4, 1923.
A n A c t t o facilitate t h e e n f o r c e m e n t in N e w S o u t h
W a l e s of m a i n t e n a n c e o r d e r s m a d e i n E n g l a n d
a n d I r e l a n d a n d c e r t a i n o t h e r p a r t s of H i s
Majesty's Dominions and Protectorates, and
vice versa.
[ A s s e n t e d to, 2 n d O c t o b e r , 1923.]
B
E it enacted b y t h e K i n g ' s M o s t E x c e l l e n t M a j e s t y ,
b y a n d w i t h t h e advice a n d consent of t h e L e g i s ­
lative Council a n d L e g i s l a t i v e A s s e m b l y of X e w S o u t h
W a l e s in P a r l i a m e n t assembled, a n d b y t h e a u t h o r i t y of
t h e same, as follows :—
1 . T h i s A c t m a y be cited as t h e " M a i n t e n a n c e
Orders ( F a c i l i t i e s for E n f o r c e m e n t ) A c t , 1 9 2 3 . "
2 . I n t h i s A c t , unless t h e c o n t e x t or s u b j e c t - m a t t e r
o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e s or requires,—•
" Applicant " includes a complainant.
" A p p l i c a t i o n " includes a complaint.
" C e r t i f i e d c o p y " i n r e l a t i o n to a n order of a c o u r t
m e a n s a c o p y of t h e o r d e r certified b y t h e
p r o p e r officer of t h e c o u r t to be a t r u e copy.
" D e p e n d a n t s " m e a n s s u c h persons as a p e r s o n
a g a i n s t w h o m a m a i n t e n a n c e order is m a d e is
liable to m a i n t a i n , a c c o r d i n g to t h e laAV in force
in t h e p l a c e w h e r e s u c h m a i n t e n a n c e order i s
made.
" Governor "
" G o v e r n o r " includes an A d m i n i s t r a t o r , C o m m i s ­
sioner, R e s i d e n t , or o t h e r officer r e p r e s e n t i n g
H i s M a j e s t y in a n y B r i t i s h P r o t e c t o r a t e .
" M a i n t e n a n c e o r d e r " m e a n s a n order o t h e r t h a n a n
order of affiliation for t h e periodical p a y m e n t
of s u m s of m o n e y towards t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of
t h e wife or o t h e r d e p e n d a n t s of t h e p e r s o n
a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is m a d e .
" P r e s c r i b e d " m e a n s prescribed b y r u l e s
u n d e r or b y v i r t u e of t h i s A c t .
made
" R e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e " m e a n s a n y p a r t of H i s
M a j e s t y ' s D o m i n i o n s outside t h e U n i t e d K i n g ­
d o m to w h i c h t h e I m p e r i a l A c t i n t i t u l e d t h e
M a i n t e n a n c e O r d e r s (Facilities for E n f o r c e ­
m e n t ) A c t , 1920, e x t e n d s , or is h e r e a f t e r
e x t e n d e d , a n d w h i c h h a s been declared u n d e r
section twelve of t h i s A c t to be a r e c i p r o c a t i n g
State- for t h e purposes of t h i s A c t .
" S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e " m e a n s one of H i s
P r i n c i p a l Secretaries of S t a t e for
being.
Majesty's
the time
3 . (1) W h e r e a m a i n t e n a n c e order h a s , w h e t h e r
before or after t h e passing of t h i s Act, b e e n m a d e a g a i n s t
a n y person by a n y c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d , or in
a n y r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , a n d a certified copy of t h e order
h a s been t r a n s m i t t e d b y t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e or bv t h e
G o v e r n o r of t h e r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , as t h e case m a y be,
to t h e Governor, t h e G o v e r n o r shall send a copy of t h e
order to t h e prescribed officer of a c o u r t in N e w S o u t h
W a l e s for r e g i s t r a t i o n ; a n d on receipt thereof, t h e order
s h a l l be r e g i s t e r e d in t h e prescribed m a n n e r , a n d shall,
from t h e date of s u c h r e g i s t r a t i o n , be of t h e s a m e force
a n d effect, a n d , s u b j e c t t o t h e provisions of t h i s A c t , all
proceedings m a y be t a k e n on s u c h order as if it h a d
b e e n a n order originally obtained in t h e c o u r t in w h i c h
it is so registered, a n d t h a t c o u r t s h a l l h a v e power to
enforce t h e order a c c o r d i n g l y .
( 2 ) T h e c o u r t in w h i c h a n o r d e r is to be so
registered as aforesaid shall, if t h e c o u r t by w h i c h t h e
o r d e r was m a d e w a s a c o u r t of superior j u r i s d i c t i o n , be
t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t , a n d , if t h e c o u r t w a s n o t a c o u r t of
s u p e r i o r j u r i s d i c t i o n , be a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction.
4.
4 . Where a court in N e w South Wales has, whether
before or a f t e r t h e p a s s i n g of t h i s A c t , m a d e a m a i n ­
t e n a n c e order a g a i n s t a n y person, a n d it is proved t o
t h a t c o u r t t h a t t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order w a s
m a d e is r e s i d e n t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a
r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , t h e c o u r t shall send to t h e G o v e r n o r ,
for t r a n s m i s s i o n t o t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e or to t h e
G o v e r n o r of t h a t r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e , as t h e case m a y b e ,
a certified copy of t h e order.
5 . (1) W h e r e a n a p p l i c a t i o n is m a d e t o a c o u r t of
s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n i n N e w S o u t h W a l e s , for a m a i n ­
t e n a n c e order a g a i n s t a n y person, a n d i t is proved t h a t
t h a t p e r s o n is r e s i d e n t i n E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a
r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e t h e c o u r t m a y , in t h e a b s e n c e of t h a t
person, if after h e a r i n g t h e evidence it is satisfied of t h e
j u s t i c e of t h e a p p l i c a t i o n , m a k e a n y s u c h order as it
m i g h t h a v e m a d e if a s u m m o n s h a d been d u l y served on
t h a t person a n d h e h a d failed t o a p p e a r a t t h e h e a r i n g ,
b u t in s u c h case t h e o r d e r shall be provisional only a n d
s h a l l h a v e n o effect u n l e s s a n d u n t i l confirmed b y a
c o m p e t e n t c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in s u c h
r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e as aforesaid, as t h e case m a y be.
(2) T h e evidence of a n y w i t n e s s w h o is e x a m i n e d
on a n y s u c h a p p l i c a t i o n shall be p u t into w r i t i n g , a n d
s u c h deposition s h a l l be r e a d over to a n d signed b y h i m .
(3) W h e r e s u c h a n order is m a d e , t h e c o u r t s h a l l
send t o t h e G o v e r n o r for t r a n s m i s s i o n to t h e S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e in a case w h e r e t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e
o r d e r is m a d e is alleged t o reside in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d ,
or to t h e G o v e r n o r of t h e r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e i n w h i c h
t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is m a d e is alleged t o
reside, as t h e case m a y be, t h e depositions so t a k e n , a n d a
certified copy of t h e order, t o g e t h e r w i t h a s t a t e m e n t of
t h e g r o u n d s on w h i c h t h e m a k i n g of t h e order m i g h t
h a v e been opposed if t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order
is m a d e h a d been d u l y served w i t h a s u m m o n s a n d h a d
a p p e a r e d a t t h e h e a r i n g , a n d s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n as t h e
c o u r t possesses for f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e identification of t h a t
person a n d a s c e r t a i n i n g his w h e r e a b o u t s .
(4) W h e r e a n y s u c h provisional order h a s c o m e
before a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o ­
c a t i n g S t a t e , as t h e case m a y be, for confirmation, a n d
the
t h e order h a s b y t h a t c o u r t b e e n r e m i t t e d to t h e c o u r t
of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n w h i c h m a d e t h e order for t h e
p u r p o s e of taking f u r t h e r evidence, t h a t c o u r t or a n y
o t h e r c o u r t of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n sitting, a n d a c t i n g
for t h e s a m e place shall, after g i v i n g t h e p r e s c r i b e d
n o t i c e , proceed to t a k e t h e evidence in like m a n n e r a n d
s u b j e c t to the like conditions as t h e evidence in s u p p o r t
of t h e original a p p l i c a t i o n .
I f u p o n t h e h e a r i n g of s u c h evidence it a p p e a r s to
t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e o r d e r o u g h t n o t to h a v e been m a d e ,
t h e c o u r t m a y rescind t h e order, b u t in a n y o t h e r case
t h e depositions shall be sent to t h e G o v e r n o r a n d dealt
w i t h in like m a n n e r as t h e original depositions.
1
(5) T h e confirmation of a n order m a d e u n d e r this
section shall n o t atfect any p o w e r of a c o u r t of s u m m a r y
jurisdiction to vary or rescind t h a t order :
P r o v i d e d t h a t on t h e m a k i n g of a v a r y i n g or rescind­
i n g order t h e c o u r t shall send a certified copy thereof to
t h e G o v e r n o r for t r a n s m i s s i o n to t h e S e c r e t a r y of State
or to t h e G o v e r n o r of t h e r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e in w h i c h
t h e original order was confirmed, as t h e case m a y he :
P r o v i d e d also t h a t in t h e case of a n order v a r y i n g an
original order t h e order shall n o t h a v e a n y effect u n l e s s
a n d u n t i l confirmed in like m a n n e r as t h e original order.
(6) T h e a p p l i c a n t shall h a v e t h e same r i g h t of
a p p e a l , if a n y , a g a i n s t a refusal to m a k e a provisional
order as s u c h person would h a v e h a d a g a i n s t a refusal
to m a k e t h e order had a s u m m o n s been d u l y served on
t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order is s o u g h t to be
made.
6 . (1) W h e r e a m a i n t e n a n c e order has been m a d e by
a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g S t a t e ,
a n d t h e order is provisional only a n d has no effect u n l e s s
and u n t i l confirmed by a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction in
N e w S o u t h W a l e s , a n d a certified copy of t h e order,
t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e depositions of witnesses a n d a state­
m e n t of t h e g r o u n d s on w h i c h t h e order m i g h t h a v e
been opposed lias b e e n t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e Governor,
a n d it a p p e a r s to t h e G o v e r n o r t h a t t h e person a g a i n s t
wdiom t h e order w a s m a d e is r e s i d e n t in N e w South
W a l e s , t h e G o v e r n o r m a y send t h e said d o c u m e n t s t o
t h e prescribed officer of a c o u r t of s u m m a r y jurisdiction,
with
with a r e q u i s i t i o n t h a t a s u m m o n s h e issued calling
u p o n t h e person to s h o w cause w h y t h a t order should
n o t he confirmed, a n d u p o n receipt of s u c h d o c u m e n t s
a n d r e q u i s i t i o n t h e c o u r t shall issue s u c h a s u m m o n s
a n d cause it to be served u p o n s u c h person.
(2) A t t h e h e a r i n g it shall be open to t h e person
o n w h o m t h e s u m m o n s w a s served t o raise a n y defence
w h i c h h e m i g h t h a v e raised i n t h e original p r o c e e d i n g
h a d h e been a p a r t y t h e r e t o , b u t no o t h e r defence, a n d
t h e certificate from t h e c o u r t w h i c h m a d e t h e p r o ­
visional order s t a t i n g t h e g r o u n d s on w h i c h t h e m a k i n g
of t h e order m i g h t h a v e been opposed if t h e person
a g a i n s t w h o m t h e order was m a d e h a d b e e n a p a r t y t o
t h e proceedings s h a l l be conclusive evidence t h a t t h o s e
g r o u n d s are g r o u n d s on w h i c h objection m a y be t a k e n .
(3) I f a t t h e h e a r i n g t h e person served w i t h t h e
s u m m o n s does n o t a p p e a r or, on a p p e a r i n g , fails t o
satisfv t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e order o u g h t n o t to be confirmed, t h e c o u r t m a y confirm t h e order e i t h e r w i t h o u t
modification or w i t h s u c h modifications as to t h e c o u r t
after h e a r i n g t h e evidence m a y seem j u s t .
(4) If t h e person a g a i n s t w h o m t h e s u m m o n s
was issued a p p e a r s a t t h e h e a r i n g a n d satisfies t h e c o u r t
t h a t for t h e p u r p o s e of a n y defence i t is necessary t o
r e m i t t h e case to t h e c o u r t w h i c h m a d e t h e provisional
o r d e r for t h e t a k i n g of a n y f u r t h e r evidence, t h e c o u r t
m a y so r e m i t t h e case a n d a d j o u r n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s for
t h e purpose.
(5) W h e r e a provisional o r d e r lias b e e n con­
firmed u n d e r t h i s section, it m a y b e varied or rescinded
i n like m a n n e r as if it h a d o r i g i n a l l y b e e n m a d e b y t h e
c o n f i r m i n g c o u r t , a n d w h e r e on a n a p p l i c a t i o n for
rescission or v a r i a t i o n t h e c o u r t is satisfied t h a t it is
necessarv to r e m i t t h e case to t h e c o u r t w h i c h m a d e t h e
order for t h e p u r p o s e of t a k i n g a n y f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e ,
t h e c o u r t m a y so r e m i t t h e case, a n d a d j o u r n t h e p r o ­
ceedings for t h e p u r p o s e .
(6) W h e r e a n order h a s b e e n so confirmed, t h e
person b o u n d t h e r e b y s h a l l h a v e t h e s a m e r i g h t of
a p p e a l , if a n y , a g a i n s t t h e confirmation of t h e order as
h e w o u l d h a v e h a d a g a i n s t t h e m a k i n g of t h e o r d e r h a d
t h e o r d e r b e e n a n order m a d e by t h e c o u r t confirming
t h e order.
7.
7. 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 as to t h e
m a n n e r i n w h i c h a case can be r e m i t t e d b y a court
a u t h o r i s e d to confirm a provisional order to t h e court
w h i c h m a d e t h e provisional order, a n d g e n e r a l l y for
facilitating communications between such courts.
8 . (1) A c o u r t in which a n order h a s been registered
u n d e r t h i s A c t or by w h i c h a n order has been confirmed
u n d e r this A c t , a n d t h e officers of such court, shall
t a k e all s u c h steps for enforcing t h e order as m a y be
prescribed.
(2) E v e r y such order shall, w h e r e p r a c t i c a b l e ,
be enforceable in like m a n n e r as if t h e order were m a d e
by t h e c o u r t in which it is so registered, or b y which it
is so confirmed, a n d w h e r e n o t p r a c t i c a b l e shall he
enforceable in t h e m a n n e r prescribed b y t h e J u s t i c e s
A c t , 1902, for enforcing a n order for t h e p a y m e n t of
money.
9 . (1) T h e A c t s for t h e t i m e b e i n g in force a n d
a p p l i c a b l e to proceedings in respect of m a i n t e n a n c e
orders before a c o u r t of s u m m a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n shall
a p p l y to proceedings u n d e r t h i s A c t before such c o u r t .
(2) T h e G o v e r n o r m a y for t h e p u r p o s e of c a r r y i n g
o u t t h e provisions of t h i s A c t m a k e r u l e s for c a r r y i n g
o u t t h e p r a c t i c e a n d p r o c e d u r e of courts of s u m m a r y
j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r this A c t .
(3) T h e j u d g e s of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t shall h a v e
p o w e r to m a k e r u l e s for c a r r y i n g o u t t h e practice a n d
p r o c e d u r e of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t u n d e r t h i s A c t .
1 0 . A n y d o c u m e n t p u r p o r t i n g to be- signed b y a
j u d g e or officer of a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or I r e l a n d or in a
r e c i p r o c a t i n g State shall, u n t i l t h e c o n t r a r y is proved,
be d e e m e d to h a v e been so signed w i t h o u t proof of t h e
s i g n a t u r e or judicial or official c h a r a c t e r of t h e person
a p p e a r i n g to h a v e signed it, a n d t h e officer of a court
b y w h o m a d o c u m e n t is signed shall, u n t i l t h e c o n t r a r y
is proved, be deemed to h a v e been t h e p r o p e r officer of
t h e c o u r t to sign t h e d o c u m e n t .
1 1 . Depositions t a k e n in a c o u r t in E n g l a n d or
I r e l a n d or in a r e c i p r o c a t i n g Stare, for t h e p u r p o s e s of
this Act, may he received in evidence in proceedings
before c o u r t s of s u m m a r v jurisdiction u n d e r t h i s Act.
12.
1 2 . (1) Where the Governor is satisfied that reciprocal
provisions have been made by the legislature of any part
of His Majesty's Dominions outside the United Kingdom
for the enforcement within that part of maintenance
orders made by courts within New South Wales, the
Governor may, by proclamation published in the Government Gazette, declare such part to be a reciprocating
State for the purposes of this Act, and thereupon such
part shall become a reciprocating State within the
meaning of this Act.
(2) A proclamation under this section may be
varied or revoked by a subsequent proclamation.