Section 66, The Rural Area (2) This Ordinance shall come into operation on the first day of January, 1950, or

(I) The Governor in Council may by Order empower the Rural Area Council to perform, subject to compliance in each case with any rules made under sub-section (2), all or any of the following functions- (a) to acquire any type of building material and to dispose of the same to any person ordinarily resident within the Rural Area, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as the Rural Area Council may think fit, subject only to any relevant rule made under sub-section (2) and to the condition in each case that such building materials are to be used in the construction of a specified building within the Rural Area; (b) to lend money to any person ordinarily resident within the Rural Area on such terms and conditions as the Rural Area Council may think fit, subject only to any relevant rule made under sub-section (2) and to the condition that the money so lent is to be used in the construction of a specified building within the Rural Area; (c) to guarantee, on behalf of any person ordinarily resident within the Rural Area, the performance of any contract entered into by such person for the purchase of any building material to be used in the construction of a specified building within the Rural Area; such a guarantee may be given in such manner and on such terms and conditions as the Rural Area Council may think fit, subject only to any relevant rule made under sub-section (2); (d) to do or cause to be done any act or thing which may be necessary to give full effect to any of the functions described in this sub-section. (2) The Rural Area Council shall make rules for the proper carrying out of its functions under this section. Such :rules shall be subject to the approval of the Governor in Council and may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, provide for all or any of the following matters, in so far as they relate to the proper carrying out of any of the aforesaid functions- (a) the method in which contracts are to be made and recorded; (b) the books of account to be kept; (c) the safe custody of moneys, documenti> and materials; (d) the responsibilities and duties of officers of the Rural Area Council ; (e) the types of houses in respect of which the Rural Area Council may supply building materials, advance money, or guarantee contracts; (f) the types of building materials which the Rural Area Council may supply or in respect of which the Rural Area Council may advance money or guarantee contracts; (g) the method in which applications to the Rural Area Council for the supply of building materials, the grant of loans and the guarantee of contracts are to be made, and the manner in which such applications are to be dealt with; (h) the extent to which security for the due performance of contracts is to be required from applicants for building materials, loans or guarantees, and the nature of such security; Duties and powers of rural district councils. Cap. 129. * Cap. 192. (i) the recovery of debts and the writing off of any debt considered by the Rural Area Council to be irrecoverable; (j) the inspection of houses in respect of which building materials have been supplied by the Rural Area Council or in respect of materials for which the Rural Area Council has made a loan or guaranteed a contract; (k) the fees and charges which the Rural Area Council may levy in respect of the performance of any function which it is empowered to carry out under the provisions of sub-section (1); (l) the imposition of penalties not exceeding a fine of twenty pounds or, in default of payment, imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period of six months for the contravention of any rule made under this sub-section, and the prescription of the Courts which will have jurisdiction to try cases arising out of any allegation of the breach of any such rule.