asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether all, or any, of the following appliances, and if so, which, are regarded as industrial machinery for the purposes of the Second Schedule to the Hiring, Hire-Purchase and Credit Sale Order, 1956, S.I. No. 46 of 1956, (i) weighing machines, scales and balances used in shops, factories and for general commercial purposes, and (ii) food-preparing machines and processing machines, including slicers, mincers, mixers, peeling machines and such-like, as used in hotels, restaurants, canteens, butchers' shops, and bakeries, and generally in businesses and industries processing foodstuffs for resale.
Written Answer. - Hire-Purchase Order.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the interpretation of Statutory Orders is ultimately a matter for the courts. It was my intention, however, when making the Hiring, Hire-Purchase and Credit Sale Order that it should not apply to appliances of the kind mentioned by the Deputy where such appliances are sold for use in or in connection with industrial operations. It was not contemplated that articles of this kind when used in nonindustrial undertakings should be exempt from the provisions of the Order.