Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1913 (Amendment) (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1919. No. 256.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902-1918 (TWENTIETH AMENDMENT 1919).

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this twenty-eighth day of October, 1919.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

LITTLETON E. GROOM,

for the Prime Minister.

———

Amendment of Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1913.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 341.)

1. Regulation 120 of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Constitution of Examination Board.

“120. Examinations for promotion or transfer within the Professional Division shall be held from time to time, and be conducted by a Board consisting of three competent persons appointed by the Governor-General, on the recommendation of the Commissioner, one of whom shall be a professional officer in the same Department of the Service in which the officer is employed, to be selected by the permanent head, one, a senior professional officer from another Department, and one selected by the Commissioner.”

2. Regulation 134 of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations is repealed.

3. Regulations 141 and 142 of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations are repealed, and the following regulations inserted in their stead:—

Transfer of Officers from one Division to another.

“141. (1) An officer may, with his own consent, be promoted or transferred from one division to another division, provided that—

(a) In the case of transfer or promotion from the Clerical or General to the Professional Division, he shall first pass such examination as is required by the Commissioner, which may be competitive or non-competitive, as the Commissioner decides, and shall be conducted by a Board of Examiners appointed by the Commissioner; and

(b)in the case of transfer or promotion from the General to the Clerical Division he shall first pass the tests and examination prescribed in regulation 194 or 196, as the case may be.

(2) An officer applying to be examined under paragraph (a) of the last preceding sub-regulation may be required to submit with his application a certificate from the chief officer of his Department as to his official record and general fitness or capacity for performing the duties of the higher position, and the Commissioner shall thereupon determine whether or not the officer shall be admitted to examination.

(3) The examination required by paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1) of this regulation may be dispensed with if an officer has passed an examination held by a university or other public examining body comprising subjects appropriate to the duties to be performed, or the Commissioner is satisfied from other evidence that he is competent to carry out the duties.

Transfers from General Division to Professional or Clerical Division.

“142. An officer, upon transfer from the General Division to the Professional or Clerical Division, shall continue to receive the salary paid to him in the General Division, provided that, if the Commissioner so determine, such officer may be granted, either upon transfer or at a later date, to be fixed, the salary of the subdivision next above that corresponding to the salary received by him in the General Division, such salary not being the minimum salary payable under section 25 of the Act.”

4. Part X. of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations is repealed and the following Part inserted in its stead:—

“Part X.—Examinations, Appointments, and Transfers.

Division I.—Professional Division.

Competitive examinations for appointment to Professional Division.

“189. Competitive examinations may be held for appointment to positions in the Professional Division, the subjects of examination and marks for any specified position being such as are arranged by the Commissioner from time to time and notified in the Commonwealth Gazette.

Division II.—Clerical Division.

Examinations for admission to Clerical Division.

190. (1) Except as otherwise provided in these Regulations, every candidate for admission to the Clerical Division shall be examined in the following subjects:—

Full Marks.
(i)	Handwriting.—To be valued for legibility, neatness, and simplicity, judged by the answers to the examination papers in dictation and arithmetic..	400
(ii)	Dictation.........................................................................................	400
(iii)	English.—Essay writing, précis writing, correction of grammatical errors, analysis, and the meanings of words..........................................................	400
(iv)	Arithmetic.—The full course, such as is usually contained in a standard treatise	400
(v)	Geography.—Outlines of physical and political geography, and the geography of the Commonwealth of Australia in moderate detail...................	300
(vi)	English History.—From the middle of the 18th century to the present time, especially with reference to Australia and other British Dependencies	300

and may, if the candidate so desires, be examined in not more than two of the following optional or additional subjects:—

Full marks.
(a)	Mathematics.—Geometry, theoretical and practical. Elements of geometry as contained in any of the modern text-books, including simple theorems about angles, parallels, congruent triangles, inequalities, parallelograms; areas of rectangles, triangles, and parallelograms; theorems corresponding to algebraic identities; relations between the squares on the sides of right-angled, acute, and obtuse-angled triangles; centre, diameter, and chords of a circle; intersection and contact of circles; tangents; angles in segments; cyclic quadrilaterals; intersecting chords; circumscribed, inscribed, and escribed circles of a triangle; regular polygons; loci; theory of proportion relating to triangles of a given altitude, proportional division of the sides of a triangle, similar triangles, bisector of an angle of a triangle. Constructions, depending on the above, of points, angles, straight lines, triangles, parallelograms, squares, regular hexagons and circles, satisfying given data, may be required to be done carefully with graduated ruler, protractor, and compasses. Algebra up to and including quadratic equations in one or two unknown quantities...........................................................................................................	350
(b)	Latin, including easy sight translation, easy composition, and grammar.....	300
(c)	French, same as in Latin.........................................................................	300
(d)	Elementary Physics.—The properties of matter, elementary mechanics, and the elements of electricity, magnetism, and heat........................................................	300
(e)	Shorthand and Typewriting.—Shorthand will comprise three tests of three minutes each, at the rates of 80, 100, and 120 words a minute, 45 minutes being allowed for the transcription of the whole. The transcription must be written (200 marks). No speed is prescribed for typewriting. Candidates will be allowed a certain time for typing the paper set (100 marks)...........................................................	300

(2) No candidate shall be qualified for appointment unless he obtains at least three-fifths of the full marks in each of the first four subjects, and half the aggregate marks in the remaining two compulsory subjects.

(3) In optional subjects no candidate shall be credited with any marks unless he obtains at least 25 per cent. of the full number allotted for any subject.

Competitive examinations to be held in conjunction with examinations held by universities, &c.

“191. (1) Competitive examinations may be arranged in conjunction with examinations of at least the same standard as that prescribed in regulation 190 held by a University or Department of Education of any State.

(2) The subjects of the competitive examinations shall be those prescribed by the authority of the State conducting the examination except such as are not considered by the Commissioner to be appropriate, and any additional subjects which the Commissioner specifies. The maximum marks and pass marks shall be determined by the Commissioner and notified in the Commonwealth Gazette.

Examination of returned soldiers for admission to Clerical Division.

“192. (1) Examinations, the subject of which shall be as follows may be arranged for appointment to the Clerical Division of persons who have served with satisfactory record in any Expeditionary Force raised under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1918:—

Full marks.
(a)	Handwriting.—To be valued for legibility, simplicity, and neatness, judged by the answers to the examination papers in dictation and arithmetic................	400
(b)	Dictation..............................................................................................	400
(c)	English.—Essay writing, précis writing, correction of grammatical errors, meanings of words, and simple analysis (comprising division of a piece of English into its component clauses, division of sentences into subject and predicate, naming the character of each sentence). In lieu of analysis a candidate may elect to paraphrase a simple piece of verse........................................................................	400
(d)	Arithmetic.—The first four rules (simple and compound), averages, simple proportion, percentages, simple interest and discount, measurement of rectangular surfaces	400
(e)	Geography.—Outlines of physical and political geography, and the geography of the Commonwealth of Australia in moderate detail....................................	300
(f)	English History.—From the middle of the eighteenth century to the present time, especially with reference to Australia and other British Dependencies....	300
(g)	Mathematics.—Geometry, theoretical and practical. Elements of geometry as contained in any of the modern text-books, including simple theorems about angles, parallels, congruent triangles, inequalities, parallelograms; areas of rectangles, triangles, and parallelograms; theorems, corresponding to algebraic identities; relations between the squares on the sides of right-angled, acute, and obtuse-angled triangles; centre, diameter, and chords of a circle; intersection and contact of circles; tangents; angles in segments; cyclic quadrilaterals; intersecting chords; circumscribed, inscribed, and escribed circles of a triangle; regular polygons; loci; theory of proportion relating to triangles of a given altitude,

 

proportional division of the sides of a triangle, similar triangles, bisector of an angle of a triangle. Constructions, depending on the above, of points, angles, straight lines, triangles, parallelograms, squares, regular hexagons, and circles, satisfying given data, may be required to be done carefully with graduated ruler, protractor, and compasses.
Algebra up to and including quadratic equations in one or two unknown quantities	300
(h)	Bookkeeping.—Use of subsidiary books, including cash book, sales book, purchases book, bills receivable book, bills payable book. Ledger—nominal, real, and personal accounts. Trial balances. Extracting trading and profit and loss accounts and balance-sheets..	300
(i)	Business Knowledge.—Business correspondence (composition of letters, treatment of outgoing letters, treatment of incoming letters, indexing). Postal information (chief oversea mail routes from and to Australia, registered letters, late letters, parcels post, money orders, postal notes), Banking (notes, cheques, pay-in slips, exchange, current accounts, overdrafts, deposits). Common commercial terms and abbreviations..............................................	300
(j)	Shorthand and Typewriting.—Shorthand will comprise three tests of three minutes each, at the rates of 80, 100, and 120 words a minute, 45 minutes being allowed for the transcription of the whole. The transcription must be written (200 marks)..............................
No speed is prescribed for typewriting. Candidates will be allowed a fixed time for typing the set paper (100 marks).................................................................................	300
(k)	Latin.—Including easy sight translation, easy composition, and grammar.........	300
(l)	French.—Same as in Latin............................................................................	300
(m)	Elementary Physics.—The properties of matter, elementary mechanics, and the elements of electricity, magnetism, and heat...................................................................	300
(n)	Elementary Chemistry.—The principal non-metallic elements and their chief inorganic compounds................................................................................................	300

(2) A candidate must undergo examination in at least six, but not more than eight, subjects, four of which shall be subjects (a), (b), (c), and (d), specified in the last preceding sub-regulation, the remaining two, three, or four being left to his choice.

(3) To pass the examination, a candidate must obtain at least 1,320 of the 2,200 marks available for six subjects, viz:—(a), (b), (c), and (d), and the two of the selected subjects in which the highest marks are obtained, and at least 25 per cent. of the marks allotted to each of such subjects.

(4) A successful candidate will also be credited with the marks awarded in the one or two additional subjects he may have taken, if at least 25 per cent. of the marks available for each of the additional subjects is obtained, but the marks for a subject not considered for the purpose of a pass shall be awarded on a maximum of 200.

           

C.15823.—2

Certificates of competency in technical work.

“193. Candidates for employment in the Postmaster-General’s Department, in positions in the Clerical Division where operating ability is required, must, prior to registration for examination, produce a certificate from the Chief Officer or other officer in the State, duly authorized by the Permanent Head, setting forth that such candidates have the requisite technical knowledge and experience, and that they are capable of undertaking the work required of them.

Transfer from General Division to Clerical Division, Class 5.

“194. (1) Examinations may be held as required under the provisions of section 23 (4) to enable officers of the General Division to qualify for transfer to the Fifth Class of the Clerical Division. Candidates for examination under this regulation shall, in addition to such other subjects or tests as the Commissioner may from time to time specify for particular positions, be required to pass in subjects (i), (ii) (iii), and (iv), specified in regulation 190.

(2) An officer of the General Division who has served with satisfactory record in any Expeditionary Force raised under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1918—

(a)shall be deemed to have passed the examination prescribed in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 194 if he has passed an examination prescribed in regulation 192 or regulation 202; and

(b) may qualify for transfer as Telegraphist or Clerical Assistant at an examination arranged to fill such positions if he obtains at least 60 per cent. of the marks allotted to subjects (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), specified in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 192, and at least 25 per cent. of the marks allotted to each of those subjects and passes such telegraphy tests as the Commissioner determines.

Evidence of knowledge of telegraphy.

“195. An officer who is a candidate for transfer to the Clerical Division at an examination which includes tests in telegraphy may be required to produce evidence from the Chief Officer or other officer specified by the Commissioner that there is a reasonable expectation of his passing the telegraphy tests.

Transfer from General Division to Fourth and higher classes of Clerical Division.

“196. (1) Examinations may be held as required under the provisions of paragraph (d)of section 41 for transfer from the General Division to the Fourth and higher classes of the Clerical Division, and shall comprise, in addition to the following, viz.:—Spelling, letter-writing, précis writing, correction of grammatical errors, the meanings of words, knowledge of Departmental Acts and Regulations, and elementary arithmetic, such subjects as the Commissioner from time to time specifies when notifying the examination. Examinations held under this regulation will be competitive, and shall be open to such officers or classes of officers as the Commissioner specifies.

(2) An officer applying to be examined under this regulation may be required to submit with his application a certificate from the Chief Officer of his Department as to his official record and general fitness or capacity for performing the duties of the higher position, and the Commissioner shall thereupon determine whether or not the officer shall be admitted to examination.

Division III.—General Division.

Examinations for admission to General Division.

“197. Except as provided in regulations 201 and 202, every candidate for admission to the General Division shall be examined in the following subjects:—

Full marks.
(a)	Handwriting.—To be judged by the candidate’s paper in spelling...................	100
(b)	Spelling.—To be tested by writing from dictation not less than 180 words.......	150
(c)	Arithmetic.—First four rules, simple and money............................................	200
Total...............................................................................................	450

Telegraph messengers.

“198. Every candidate for appointment as telegraph messenger must be not less than fourteen years of age, and must not have attained his sixteenth birthday, at the date of examination. Every successful candidate nominated for appointment as telegraph messenger must be not less than fourteen and not more than sixteen years of age at his last birthday previous to appointment.

Certificates of fitness for special positions.

“199. (1) Every candidate for examination for any position where technical knowledge usually gained in some trade or other occupation is necessary may be required to submit with his application satisfactory evidence by certificate or otherwise that he possesses the handicraft and experience necessary for the work of the position.

(2) In every case where the Commissioner is of opinion that there is no evidence of fitness disclosed, he may exclude the candidate from examination.

Subjects of examination for position of telegraph messengers.

“200. The subjects of examination for candidates for appointment as Telegraph Messenger, Telephonist, or any other office or position where, in the opinion of the Commissioner, a special examination is not necessary, shall be those specified in regulation 197, and all candidates to whom the examiners award one-half of the maximum number of marks therein in each subject set forth shall be declared qualified for appointment.

Provided that candidates for the position of Telegraph Messenger shall be held to be qualified for appointment if they obtain half the maximum number of marks in spelling and in handwriting, but their order of merit shall be determined by the number of marks obtained for those subjects and arithmetic. A person appointed as Telegraph Messenger shall not be eligible for transfer or promotion in the General Division unless he has obtained half marks in arithmetic at any examination for appointment (a) as Telegraph Messenger, (b) as Messenger in training, or (c) as Junior Mechanic in training, or (d)at an examination to enable Telegraph Messengers to qualify for promotion in the General Division to be held half-yearly.

Subjects of examination where technical knowledge is required

“201. The subjects of examination for positions in the General Division where technical knowledge is required shall be those specified from time to time by the Commissioner.

Division IIIa.

Appointments under Section 29a of Persons who have Served with any Expeditionary force raised under the Provisions of The Defence Act 1903-1918.

Appointment of returned soldiers who have passed prescribed examinations.

“202. Persons who have served with satisfactory record in any Expeditionary Force raised under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1918 are eligible for appointment to the Commonwealth Public Service in the Clerical and General Divisions, if they have passed one of the examinations named hereunder, provided that no person shall be appointed to any position requiring technical knowledge or skill of the occupant until he has satisfied the Commissioner that he possesses the technical knowledge or skill necessary for the efficient performance of the duties:—

Examinations held by the Sydney University, viz.:—

Matriculation, Senior Public, and Junior Public.

Examinations held by the Melbourne University, viz.:—

Matriculation, Senior Public, Senior Commercial, Junior Public, Junior Commercial, and examinations for the Intermediate and Leaving Certificates.

Examinations held by the University of Queensland, viz.:—

Scholarship, Senior Public, and Junior Public.

Examinations held by the Adelaide University, viz.:—

Higher, Senior Public, Senior Commercial, Junior Public, and Junior Commercial.

Examinations held by the University of Western Australia, viz.:—

Leaving Certificate, Commercial Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate, and Commercial Junior Certificate.

Examinations held by the University of Tasmania, viz.:—

Senior Public, and Junior Public.

Examinations for the Public Service of New South Wales, viz.:—

Examinations for appointment to the Clerical Division, other than to positions of Shorthand Writer and Typist, and Typist held under the Public Service Act of 1895 and subsequent Acts relating to the Public Service.

Examinations for the Public Service of Victoria, viz.:—

Examinations for appointment as Clerk held under the Public Service Act 1883 and subsequent Acts relating to the Public Service.

Examinations for the Public Service of Queensland, viz.:—

Examinations for appointment to the Ordinary or Classified Division of the Public Service held under the Civil Service Act of 1889 and subsequent Acts relating to the Public Service.

Examinations for the Public Service of South Australia, viz.:—

Examinations for appointment to the Public Service held under the Civil Service Act of 1874 and subsequent Acts relating to the Public Service.

Examinations for the Public Service of Western Australia, viz.:—

Examinations for appointment as Clerk in Class G, and Class F, held under the Public Service Act 1904 and subsequent Acts relating to the Public Service.

Examinations for the Public Service of Tasmania, viz.:—

Examinations for appointment as Clerk held under the Public Service Act 1906 and subsequent Acts relating to the Public Service.

Examinations held by the Department of Defence, viz.:—

For appointment as Military Staff Clerk.

For admission to the Royal Military College of Australia.

Examinations held by the Department of the Navy, viz.:—

For appointment as Naval Staff Clerk and as Paymasters’ Clerk.

Examinations held in and since 1912 for the Intermediate Certificate of the Department of Education, New South Wales.

Examinations held in and since 1913 for the Leaving Certificate of the Department of Education, New South Wales.

Examinations held by the Education Department, Victoria, for Teachers’ Certificate, Second Class.

The Cambridge University Junior Local Examination.

The examination for the Leaving Certificate of the Scotch Education Department.

Any examination not included in the foregoing conducted by a, public examining body in the British dominions, the passing of which qualifies for admission to a University.

Division IV.—Miscellaneous.

Competitive examinations.

“203. Competitive examinations shall be held at such times and places as the Commissioner considers necessary, and shall be notified in the Commonwealth Gazette.

When vacancies occur for which it would be inexpedient to hold a general examination, the Commissioner may direct that a special examination be held in the locality where such vacancies exist.

Local examinations for appointment as Telegraph Messenger or Telephonist.

“204. Local examinations shall be held as required for appointment as Telegraph Messenger or as Telephonist. Except in capital cities, applications will be received by the local Postmaster, who shall, where possible, supervise the examination in accordance with directions issued to him by the Commissioner. The Postmaster shall keep a record of the names, addresses, and ages of all candidates who enter for the examination. Upon publication in the Gazette of the names of candidates who have qualified for appointment at such centre, the Postmaster shall note their addresses, so that, should temporary or casual assistance be required during the eligibility of the successful candidates, selection shall be made from those who are qualified by examination and are resident in the particular centre.

Age of candidates for Professional or General Division.

“205. The Commissioner may fix minimum and maximum ages for examination and appointment to any particular position in the Professional of General Division. Any determination of the Commissioner under this regulation shall be notified in the Commonwealth Gazette.

Age of candidates for Clerical Division.

“206. Candidates for appointment to the Clerical Division must, on the day of examination, be not less than fifteen nor more than twenty-five years of age at their last birthday, but successful candidates shall not be eligible for appointment until they attain the age of sixteen years:

Provided that candidates who have served with satisfactory record in any Expeditionary Force raised under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1918 may be not more than fifty years of age on the day of examination.

Particulars to be furnished by candidates.

“207. Each candidate for appointment to the Public Service shall forward to the Commissioner, or to such person as the Commissioner directs, an application in his own handwriting stating his full name and address, the particular appointment or the class of appointment he desires to obtain, the centre at which he wishes to be examined, the optional subjects, if any are prescribed, selected by him, and the State in which he seeks employment, and he must at the same time furnish a certificate of good moral character and industrious habits from his present or a past employer, a clergyman, a teacher, or a justice of the peace.

Nationality.

“208. Every candidate shall be a natural-born or naturalized British subject: Provided, however, that with the permission of the Governor-General a candidate not so naturalized may be allowed to present himself for examination.

Register of candidates.

“209. The name of every person who is an applicant for a notified examination and who, in the opinion of the Commissioner, has complied with the requirements of these regulations, and any other conditions which may be specified for candidates at the examination, shall be entered in the “Register of Candidates,” and no person shall be allowed to attend the examination unless his name has been so entered. Any applicant for examination who is not entitled to have his name entered on the Register of Candidates will be informed of the reason for his exclusion from the examination.

Candidates to be informed as to place &c., of examination.

“210. Candidates will, as soon as practicable before the date fixed for the examination, be informed by circular of the place and time at which they are to present themselves for examination, of the directions to be observed by them at the examination, which shall be such as the Commissioner from time to time approves, and of the distinguishing number to be allotted to them at the examination.

Entrance fees.

“211. (1) The following entrance fees shall be paid by applicants for examination, viz., for appointment to the Professional Division, Seven shillings and sixpence; for appointment to the Clerical or General Division, Five shillings:

Provided that, at examinations limited to officers of the Public Service, or examinations at which those officers are in competition with persons outside the Service, the Commissioner may decide, according to the circumstances of the case, and the conditions of examination, whether a fee should be imposed upon all or any of the candidates.

(2) If an applicant fails to comply with the last preceding sub-regulation he will not be allowed to present himself for examination.

(3) The amount paid will be refunded if the applicant is found to be ineligible for examination, or if satisfactory reasons are furnished as to inability to attend an examination.

Fees payable to examiners

“212. (1) The fees payable to examiners appointed under section 27 of the Act for setting examination papers and marking candidates’ answersshall be such as the Governor-General, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner, fixes from time to time, according to the nature of the examination subject and the work involved.

(2) The fee payable to examiners for furnishing reports upon candidates’ examination papers shall be 7s. 6d. for each paper upon which an examiner makes a report.

Supervision of examinations.

“213. The Commissioner may appoint suitable persons to supervise examinations, who shall observe such instructions for the conduct of examinations as the Commissioner directs.

Publication of results of examinations.

“214. The results of the examinations will be published in the Commonwealth Gazette as soon as practicable after the examination, and will specify, in order of merit, the names of the successful candidates.

Reports on papers at request of candidates.

“215. The marks allotted by examiners shall be final. A candidate may, however, upon payment to the Secretary, Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner, of an amount of Seven shillings and sixpence for each subject upon which a report is desired, obtain reports upon his examination papers showing the detailed allotment of marks in any particular subject, and a statement as to the merits and defects of his paper.

Registration and appointment.

“216. The Commissioner will cause the names of all candidates who have qualified for appointment by passing the required standard of examination for the advertised positions, to be entered in their order of merit in the “Register of Persons Qualified for Appointment.” The date of the examination, the number of marks obtained thereat, and the State in which each candidate will be available for appointment shall also be entered. If two or more candidates secure the same total of marks their order of merit shall be determined in such manner as the Commissioner specifies in the notification of the examination.

Order of appointment.

“217. Except as provided in section 26a of the Act, new appointments in the Professional and Clerical Divisions shall be made from among those persons whose names are registered in the “Register of Persons Qualified for Appointment,” according to the order of their registration, and in the General Division according to the order of their registration for vacant offices, combined with fitness in each case for the particular office to be filled:

Provided that the Commissioner, upon sufficient evidence of an adverse nature as to conduct and ability, may direct that a successful candidate shall not receive appointment, promotion, or transfer.

Candidates not appointed.

“218. Except as provided in section 10 of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1917, the names of all qualified candidates not appointed, promoted, or transferred, as the case may be, within eighteen months of the date of registration, shall be ruled out of the Register:

Provided, however, that the Commissioner may, if he deem such a course expedient, extend the period of eligibility of successful candidates who are officers of the Service.

Certificates to be furnished.

“219. (1) A successful candidate shall, upon appointment, and within fourteen days of a request being made therefor, forward to the Commissioner—

(a) a properly certified extract from an official register of births, or other evidence of age satisfactory to the Commissioner; and

(b) a certificate, from a medical practitioner registered within the Commonwealth, of sound bodily health, and freedom from physical defects, containing satisfactory answers to such detailed questions as the Commissioner may specify:

Provided that when so directed such medical certificate must be obtained from a medical practitioner nominated by the Commissioner.

(2) If the required certificates are not forwarded within the time specified, or are not considered satisfactory, the Commissioner may cancel the appointment.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this regulation, in the case of any successful candidate who has served with satisfactory record in any Expeditionary Force raised under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1918, such candidate may be appointed, although not free from physical defects, provided it is certified by a medical practitioner approved by the Commissioner that he is free from such physical defects as would incapacitate him for the efficient discharge of the duties of the position to which he has been nominated for appointment.

Removal of names from register.

“220. If any person declines to accept an appointment which is offered to him, his name may thereupon be removed from the Register. The name of a candidate may also be removed from the Register if he fails to reply within seven days to any communication from the Commissioner, respecting his nomination to the Public Service addressed to him at his last-known place of residence.

Conditions of appointment.

“221. Every person admitted to the Public Service shall, in the first instance, be appointed on probation for a period of six months, but his services may be dispensed with by the Commissioner at any time during that period. Before the expiration of the period of probation the permanent head shall report to the Commissioner on the manner in which the probationer has performed his duties, and upon his general conduct. Upon receipt of the report the Commissioner will recommend to the Governor-General that the appointment be confirmed or annulled, or that the period of probation be extended for a further period not exceeding six months.

Appointment of Telephonists.

“222. (1) Every person appointed to the position of telephonist shall, after the expiration of three months from the date of his appointment, be tested by the Chief Officer, or some person nominated by the Chief Officer, in the following matters:—

(a) Clearness of speech and acuteness of hearing over a telephone line; and

(b) practical efficiency in the operation of a telephone switchboard.

If he fails to pass the test his appointment shall be annulled.

(2) An officer shall not be transferred or promoted to the office of telephonist unless he has passed a test in clearness of speech and acuteness of hearing similar to the examination mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and is otherwise considered suitable to undertake the duties of the position.”

5. Parts XIV. and XV. of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations are repealed.

      

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