Naval Forces of the Commonwealth Regulations 1906 (Amendment) (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1918. No. 109.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1912.

Regulations for the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth—Amendments

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 NavalDefence Act 1910-1912, to come into operation on and from the 1st April, 1917.

Dated this eighth day of May, 1918.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

A. POYNTON,

for Minister of State for the Navy.

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Regulations for the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth.

Amendments.

PART II.—PERMANENT NAVAL FORCES.

Sections I. and II.—Entries, Commissions, and Promotions of Officers, Entry and Promotion of Seamen, Stokers, and Boys.

Add new regulations—

MEDICAL OFFICERS.

27. A Medical Officer, usually a Fleet Surgeon of at least six years’ seniority, may be appointed as Director of Naval Medical Services, and whilst holding that appointment will hold the equivalent rank of Captain of three years’ seniority. The salary attaching to the appointment will be as determined by the Governor-General in Council.

28. A Medical Practitioner will be eligible for appointment as Surgeon in the Permanent Naval Forces subject to the following conditions:—

(a) that he is not under 21 nor over 28 years of age;

(b) that he is of pure European descent and the son of natural-born or naturalized British subjects; (in doubtful cases the burden of clear proof will rest upon the candidate himself, his parents, or guardians);

(c) that he labours under no mental or constitutional disease or weakness, or any other imperfection or disability which may interfere with the most efficient discharge of the duties of a Medical Officer in any climate;

(d) that he is ready to engage for general service at home or abroad as required;

(e) that he is a duly registered practitioner under the States’ Medical Acts, or that he holds qualifications which entitle him to become a legally registered medical practitioner under the States’ Medical Acts, giving the date of his registration as a medical student, or of his beginning his professional studies.

29. Application for appointment must be made on the prescribed form.

30.Candidates will be required to present themselves for medical examination as to physical fitness for appointment to the Royal Australian Navy.

31. The Naval Board may direct applicants after passing the physical test to present themselves for a competitive examination held by an Examining Board appointed by the Naval Board from nominations by the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. No candidate will be permitted to sit more than twice for this examination.

32.Successful candidates will, on entry, be appointed to the rank of Surgeon, and will be on probation for one year from date of commencing Naval duty. If recommended, appointment will be confirmed on the termination of the probationary service; seniority in rank to date from the date of probationary appointment.

33. A candidate who at the time of entry into the Medical Branch of the Service holds, or is about to hold, an appointment as Medical or Surgical Officer at a recognised civil hospital, may be permitted to serve in such civil appointment provided the period of service in that appointment does not exceed one year after the date of entry into the Royal Australian Navy. Pay from Naval Funds will be withheld from Surgeons so serving, but the time so served will count towards seniority and for purposes of active and deferred pay, if approved by the Naval Board.

34. Surgeons are required to provide themselves with the regulation pocket case of instruments and stethoscope, other necessary instruments, drugs, and utensils being supplied by the Service.

35. Private practice is not allowed, but where Surgeons under special circumstances approved by the Naval Board attend on patients not provided for in the Regulations they may accept fees. No such attendance must, however, interfere with, or take any Officer from the vicinity of his Service duties, which are to be considered first in every case.

Promotion to Staff Surgeon.

36.Surgeons will be promoted to the rank of Staff Surgeon on attaining 8 years’ seniority as Surgeon subject to the approval of the Naval Board and the following conditions:—

(a) Must have served three years at sea.

(b) Must have passed the qualifying examination.

(c) Must be recommended for advancement.

(2) Special promotions to the rank of Staff Surgeon will be made, at the discretion of the Naval Board, in cases of distinguished service or conspicuous professional merit. Such promotions will be exceptional, and will not exceed one in three years. This limitation will not, however, apply to promotions for gallantry in action.

36a. Accelerated Promotion.—Certificates will be granted to Surgeons at the qualifying examination for Staff Surgeon according to the following scale of marks:—

50 per cent. of marks for a pass;

75 per cent. of marks for a first class certificate;

85 per cent. of marks for a special certificate.

(2) An officer obtaining a first class certificate will be eligible for an advance of twelve months’ seniority, and one obtaining a special certificate eighteen months. This accelerated promotion will not be granted on the examination results alone. An officer must be recommended as deserving advancement. The Naval Board reserves the right to reduce this advancement if considered advisable. If a Surgeon fails to pass at the first attempt, the result of a successful second trial will not count towards accelerated promotion.

Examination for Staff Surgeon.

37.The Examination for the rank of Staff Surgeon will be held once a year or more often as requisite, and will consist of written papers on medicine, surgery (clinical and operative), pathology, bacteriology, hygiene, and naval hygiene; questions on diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat, also on anæsthetics and tropical diseases, may be included in the papers.

(2) The papers will be set by an Examining Board appointed by the Naval Board from nominations from the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The examination will be held during the fifth (5th) or following year’s services, and at such time as will meet the requirements of the candidates.

37a. A Surgeon who fails to obtain a pass will be allowed a second trial, but will not have a second course of instruction. If he fails at the second attempt he will be compulsorily retired on reaching eight years’ seniority or on the second failure. Should a Surgeon not pass until over eight years’ seniority, his seniority as Staff Surgeon will be dated back to the day on which he attained eight years’ seniority as Surgeon, but he will only be eligible for increase of active pay and deferred pay from the date of passing the examination.

37b. Should a Surgeon reach ten years’ seniority without having passed the Staff Surgeons’ examination, he will be required to resign his commission except in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Naval Board.

Promotion to Fleet Surgeon.

38. Staff Surgeons will be promoted to the rank of Fleet Surgeon on attaining eight years’ seniority as Staff Surgeon, subject to the approval of the Naval Board and the following conditions:—

(a) Must have served three years at sea in the rank of Staff Surgeon.

(b) Must be recommended for promotion.

(c) Must never have declined service except for reasons which were acceptable to the Naval Board.

(2) Special promotions to the rank of Fleet Surgeon will be made, at the discretion of the Naval Board, in cases of distinguished service or conspicuous professional merit. Such promotions will be exceptional, and will not exceed the rate of one in four years. This limitation will not apply, however, to promotions for gallantry in action.

Hospital Study.

39.Three courses of Hospital study will be available to Medical Officers of the Royal Australian Navy, as follows:—

(a) For Surgeons prior to the Staff Surgeons’ Examination.

(b) For Senior Medical Officers over fourteen years’ seniority.

(c) A course for any Medical Officer required to take up some special work.

(2) Under (a) Surgeons after completing four and a half years will, subject to the exigencies of the Service, as soon as possible take a six-months’ course of study at an approved Medical School, after which they must sit for the next Staff Surgeons’ Examination.

(3) Surgeons attending a course must submit a programme of their proposed studies to the Director of Naval Medical Services, and must produce certificates of attendance. The Course must include clinical medicine and surgery, operative surgery, pathology, diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat, and hygiene. Optional subjects—bacteriology, skiagraphy, electro and serum therapy. The cost will, up to a limit to be decided by the Naval Board, be borne by the Service.

(4) Under (b) Medical Officers who have completed fourteen years will be permitted a three-months’ course as occasion arises to refresh their general knowledge. Officers must submit a programme of their proposed studies to the Director of Naval Medical Services. The cost will be borne as for (a).

Entry of Surgeons for Temporary Service.

40. A limited number of medical practitioners will be entered for temporary service in time of war or emergency.

(2) Surgeons entered for temporary service are required to hold the following qualifications:—

(a) To be of pure European descent, and sons of natural-born or naturalized British subjects.

(b) To be duly registered practitioners under the States’ Medical Acts, or to hold qualifications which entitle applicants to become legally registered medical practitioners under the States’ Medical Acts.

(c) To be reported fit after medical examination.

(d) Age not to exceed forty years.

(3) Surgeons entered for temporary service—

(a) must engage for six months certain, but liability of service is limited to five years;

(b) will be liable to immediate discharge for misconduct or incompetency;

(c) will be given two calendar months’ notice (not including period of leave due) of services being no longer required;

(d) will rank with, but after, Surgeons in the Permanent Sea-going Force;

(e) will be under the general rule of the service as regards discipline, &c.;

(f) will be allowed to resign voluntarily subject to the exigencies of the service, but in this case any leave due will be forfeited thereby;

(g) will be required to sign a Declaration of Service when taking up appointment;

(h) must be willing to serve when and where required after signing the Declaration;

(i) will be required to provide themselves with a stethoscope and a pocket case of instruments; other necessary instruments are provided by the Service.

(4) The uniform worn by Temporary Surgeons shall be the same as for Surgeons of the Permanent Sea-going Force, except that instead of the stripes of ½ in gold lace round the sleeves of jackets, there are to be waved lines of ¼ in. gold braid.

Emergency List of Medical Officers.

41. Medical Officers on resigning their commissions in the Permanent Sea-going Force may, if they so desire, and are recommended, be placed on the Emergency List of Medical Officers. Officers so enrolled are allowed to retain their commissions and to wear the uniform of their rank. Only Officers who continue to practise their profession will be eligible for enrolment in the Emergency List.

(2) All Medical Officers on the Emergency List shall be liable to be called up for service in time of War or National Emergency, but will not receive active or deferred pay, or promotion when not employed.

(3) Retired Medical Officers of the Royal Navy will also be eligible for appointment to the Emergency List, provided they intend to permanently settle in Australia, and the Royal Navy has no prior claim on them.

(4) Medical Officers on the Emergency List will be compulsorily retired on attaining the age of 55 years.

(5) Medical Officers on the Emergency List may, if desirous, transfer to the Royal Australian Naval Brigade. If transferred, such Officers will count seniority on the Emergency List towards seniority in the Royal Australian Naval Brigade, and they will be eligible for appointment as District Naval Medical Officer. They will wear the uniform of a Medical Officer of the Royal Australian Naval Brigade, but permission may be given to wear the uniform as an Officer on the Emergency List.

PART IV.—DISCIPLINE.

Application Of Naval Discipline Act.

Regulation 171b.—Clause at present lettered (i) to be re-lettered (j) Add new clause (l)—

“(i). Section 58 (16) of the Act shall in relation to the Commonwealth Naval Forces apply as if the words ‘and District and Sub-District Naval Officers’ were inserted after the words ‘His Majesty’s Dockyards.’”

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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.