STATUTORY RULES.
1921. No. 55.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.
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 1903-1918, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twelfth day of March, 1921.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
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The Australian Military Regulations 1916.
Amendments.
(a) Regulation 54 is repealed and the following regulation substituted therefor:—
“54. (1) A branch of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps may be formed as part of the Permanent Forces and designated the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent).
(2) The Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) shall be composed, subject in the case of Officers to the provisions of section 148 of the Act, of such Officers and other ranks as are appointed or transferred thereto or enlisted therein in accordance with the regulations.
(b) Regulations 56 and 57 are repealed and the following regulations are substituted therefor:—
“56. (l) Notice of vacancies for commissioned rank in the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) will be advertised in the press in all the States and published in the Military Orders issued by the Military Board and in other appropriate Military Orders.
(2) Each candidate for appointment to commissioned rank must be between the ages of 21 and 40 years inclusive, be certified by a Medical Board to be physically qualified, and be in possession of a degree or diploma of a University or other institution approved by the Military Board.
(3) All applications for appointment to commissioned rank shall be submitted to the Military Board. The authority forwarding the applications shall record his opinion as to the fitness of each application for appointment.
(4). The Military Board shall decide in each case whether the applicant shall be permitted to present himself before the Selection Board as a candidate for selection.
57. (1) A Selection Board shall be assembled for the purpose of considering the qualifications of these candidates who are permitted under the preceding regulation to present themselves for selection.
(2) The members of the Selection Board shall be appointed by the Quartermaster-General, who shall act as President of the Board. One or more qualified Veterinary Officers shall be included among those appointed members.
(3) The Selection Board shall submit to the Military Board a report as to the qualifications of each candidate who presents himself before it for selection and shall also recommend in order of merit those candidates whom it considers suitable for appointment.
(4) On receipt of the report of the Selection Board the Military Board may recommend the appointment to commissioned rank of such of the candidates as it considers suitable.
(5) First appointment to commissioned rank in the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) shall be to the rank of Lieutenant provisionally.
An Officer so appointed will be required to pass within eighteen months a qualifying examination in military organization and the administration of matters pertaining to or affecting the Australian Army Veterinary Corps or the Veterinary Services of the Army. The subject and scope of the examination shall be as approved by the Military Board.
(6) An Officer provisionally appointed who fails to pass the qualifying examination within eighteen months from the date of his appointment shall be removed from office.
(7) Officers of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) shall not engage in the private practice of their profession.
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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.
Overview
The Australian Military Regulations 1916, enacted in 1921, were established to amend and provide further regulation under the Defence Act 1903-1918. These regulations specifically address the formation and management of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent), outlining the qualifications and processes for the appointment of commissioned officers. The regulations were created by the Governor-General in Council and aim to ensure that officers appointed to the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) meet stringent educational and professional standards, while also prohibiting them from engaging in private practice. This legislative instrument was enacted to streamline the administration and professional qualifications within the Defence sector, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness and integrity of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps.
Scope and Application
The Australian Military Regulations 1916, as amended by Statutory Rules 1921 No. 55, pertain specifically to the formation and management of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent), a component of the Permanent Forces. These regulations apply to officers and other ranks who are appointed, transferred, or enlisted within this corps. The regulations cover the geographic scope of the Commonwealth of Australia, with provisions for advertising vacancies in all states and setting specific qualifications for candidates, including age, medical certification, and educational requirements. The regulations are enforced through the Military Board and a Selection Board, which assess and recommend candidates for commissioned ranks. The regulations also impose restrictions on the professional conduct of officers, prohibiting them from engaging in private practice of their veterinary profession. These regulations extend the application of the Defence Act 1903-1918 and may be further elaborated or modified through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The Australian Military Regulations 1916, as amended by Statutory Rules 1921 No. 55, primarily concern the establishment and operational guidelines for the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent). Section 54 details the formation of this branch within the Permanent Forces and outlines the composition of its personnel, subject to the provisions of section 148 of the Defence Act 1903-1918. It states that officers and other ranks can be appointed, transferred, or enlisted into the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) according to established regulations.
These regulations impose specific obligations on candidates seeking to join the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) at a commissioned rank. According to Section 56, candidates must be between 21 and 40 years of age, certified as physically fit by a Medical Board, and possess a degree or diploma from an approved institution. Additionally, the Military Board is responsible for deciding whether an applicant can present themselves for selection by the Selection Board, which is detailed in Section 57. The Selection Board, appointed by the Quartermaster-General and including qualified Veterinary Officers, evaluates candidates and recommends suitable candidates to the Military Board. The Military Board then recommends candidates for appointment, which must be confirmed within a specific timeline and includes passing a qualifying examination within eighteen months.
Failure to comply with the stipulated requirements and timelines can result in serious consequences. For instance, an officer who fails to pass the qualifying examination within the specified period may be removed from office, as stipulated in Section 57(6). Additionally, officers of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) are explicitly prohibited from engaging in private practice of their profession, as stated in Section 57(7). These provisions ensure that the personnel within the Australian Army Veterinary Corps (Permanent) are both qualified and fully dedicated to their military duties.