STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 166.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903–1915.
Australian Military Regulations 1916.
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 Defence Act 1903–1915 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this eighteenth day of July, 1917.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
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REGULATIONS FOR AUSTRALIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS (PERMANENT).
Amendments to Australian Military Regulations.
Part IV.—Precedence of Corps and Officers.
A.M.R. 30 (1).—Delete the words—
“provided that an officer of the Army Ordnance Department will be the officer of, and will command, the Army Ordnance Corps.”
Part V.—Appointment, Promotion, Exchange, Transfer, Retirement and Resignation of Officers.
After A.M.R. 57.—Insert—
DIVISION 4a.—AUSTRALIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS (PERMANENT).
57a. All promotions in the Australian Army Ordnance Corps to Commissioned ranks shall be made from those serving in the Corps. In special cases, Officers of the Permanent Forces who possess special technical qualifications may when approved by the Military Board be transferred to the Australian Army Ordnance Corps.
A.M.R. 152 (1).—After “Officers of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps, Higher ranks, 60,” insert “Officers of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 60.”
Part VI.—Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers.
A.M.R. 162 (1) is cancelled and the following inserted—
162. (1) Appointment and promotion to paid acting and paid non-commissioned ranks in the Royal Australian Field Artillery, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, Royal Australian Engineers,
Australian Army Medical Corps (Permanent Service) and Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Permanent) will be made by the Adjutant-General on the recommendation, in the case of the Royal Australian Field Artillery and the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, of the Officers Commanding; in the case of the Royal Australian Engineers, of the Chief of Ordnance; in the case of the Australian Army Medical Corps (Permanent Services), of the Director-General of Medical Services, and in the case of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Permanent) of the Quartermaster-General.
Part X.—Enlistment, Transfers, Discharge, Medical Inspection.
A.M.R. 309.
For—
“Army Ordnance Corps, 18 to 30, 5 ft. 7 in., 35 inches.
Read—
“Army Ordnance Corps—
Directing Section 15 to 21 –– ––
Store Section 14 to 45 –– ––
Part XVIII.—Departmental and Veterinary Corps.
After A.M.R. 1057.—Insert—
DIVISION 3a.—AUSTRALIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS (PERMANENT).
Administration under the Direction of the Quartermaster-General.
1057a. (1) The administration of the Corps is vested in the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Services, who is the Commanding Officer of the Corps.
(2) In Districts, the Senior Ordnance Officer is the local officer commanding the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. He will carry out all duties set out in Regulations and Standing Orders to be performed by him, but will refer to the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Services any matters which require decision by higher authority, which are not authorized by Regulations, Standing Orders, or other Head-Quarters instructions, provided however that in case of emergency action may be taken in such cases, and a report submitted to Head-Quarters immediately.
Appointments.
(3) Appointments to the Directing Staff of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps will be made on the result of competitive examinations which will be of a standard equal to that prescribed for entrance to the Clerical Division of the Commonwealth Public Service.
(4) Successful candidates will, as vacancies occur, be appointed on probation for a period not exceeding twelve months, and must before the expiration of that period pass a prescribed examination in Ordnance subjects and be in possession of a certificate that they can write shorthand from dictation at the rate of at least eighty words a minute. After the expiration of not less than six months, the appointment may however be confirmed by the Commanding Officer, Australian Army Ordnance Corps if the examination has been passed.
(5) Appointments to the Store Section will be made on the results of competitive examinations held from time to time as vacancies occur. Such appointments will be on probation for a period of six months.
(6) The services of any member of the Corps may be dispensed with at any time during the probationary period. Before the expiration of such period the Senior Ordnance Officer shall report to the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Services on the manner in which the probationer has performed his duties and upon his general conduct. Upon receipt of such report the appointment shall be confirmed or annulled or the period of probation extended. Failure to annul or confirm a probationary appointment shall confer no right whatever upon the probationary appointee.
Transfers.
(7) Applications will be invited from all persons permanently employed in the Ordnance Department and on Ordnance duties at Head-Quarters, or in Districts, for transfer from their appointment to any position, to be specified, in the Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Permanent).
(8) Persons serving in the Ordnance Department as Senior Assistants, Typists, and Junior Assistants, will be transferred to the Directing Staff of the Corps, subject to the conditions set out herein. On reaching the maximum salary prescribed for their appointment held prior to transfer at the rate of increment provided for that appointment in the Regulations for Civilian Staffs under the Defence Act, they will not be granted any increase thereto until such time as they would be enabled to reach such salary, had they been appointed at the minimum rate prescribed for entrance to the Directing Staff of the Corps, and provided also that they are in possession of a First Class Certificate of Education. In the case of those who had previously served in the Store Section, two years of such service will be reckoned as one year’s service in the Directing Staff, for the purpose of computing subdivisional advancements.
(9) Members of the Store Section are eligible for transfer to the Directing Staff as Non-commissioned Officers or privates on obtaining a First Class Certificate of Education, and passing an examination in Ordnance subjects. They will not, however, be granted any increase to their then existing salary until such time as they would be enabled to reach such salary, had they been appointed at the minimum rate prescribed for entrance to the Directing Staff of the Corps. Two years’ previous service in the Store Section will be reckoned as one year’s service in the Directing Staff, for the purpose of computing subdivisional advancements. Such transfers will be on probation for a period of six (6) months.
(10) In special cases Officers, Warrant and Non-commissioned Officers and men of the Permanent Forces who possess special technical qualifications, approved by the Military Board, may be exempt from the examinations referred to herein, provided that in the case of Warrant and Non-commissioned Officers and men, they are in possession of a First Class Certificate of Education.
(11) Such transfers will be permitted only on the understanding that a Non-commissioned Officer or man in receipt of higher pay than the minimum prescribed for the rank to which he is transferred, may be permitted to retain such higher rate, but he will not be granted any increase thereto until such time as he would be enabled, by ordinary increments, to reach his existing salary, had he been appointed at the minimum rate prescribed for entrance to the Australian Army Ordnance Corps.
(12) In the case of a member of the Commonwealth Public Service employed in the Department of Defence who may be appointed to the Australian Army Ordnance Corps, and who, consequent on such appointment, is required to be enlisted for a prescribed period in the Permanent Military Forces, the prescribed period of engagement shall be until such time as he reaches the prescribed age for retirement under the Public Service Act, subject to the provisions of Regulation 332, and in the case of the person enlisted, the right of resignation at any time on giving three months’ notice in writing to the Officer Commanding of his intention to claim his discharge under this Regulation.
Promotions.
(13) All promotions to warrant and non-commissioned ranks will be subject to satisfactory report and will be by selection, except that, before promotion to rank of Warrant Officer in the Directing Staff, and Staff Sergeant in the Store Section, members of the Australian Ordnance Corps will be required to pass a prescribed examination.
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