Section 23

The Registrar may authorise in writing any public officer to be an inspector for the purposes of this Act.

The Registrar or any inspector shall, for the purposes of ascertaining whether the provisions of this Act are being complied with, have power at all reasonable times to enter into any premises at which he has reason to believe any person is carrying on business and there to make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary for those purposes.

The Registrar and every inspector when exercising any power under this Act shall declare his office and shall produce his authority in writing to any person affected by the exercise of that power.

Any person who fails to comply with a request made by or resists or obstructs the Registrar or an inspector in the performance of his duties under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

It shall not be an offence for any person to refuse to comply with any request made by the Registrar or an inspector, or to resist or obstruct the Registrar or an inspector in the performance of any of his duties under this Act, if the Registrar or inspector fails to declare his office and to produce his authority in writing. [19