Australian Rifle Club Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1939L00093 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1939. No. 93.

———

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1939.*

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 1903-1939.

Dated this Twentieth day of September ,1939.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Minister of State for Defence.

———

Amendment of Australian Rifle Club Regulations.†

Definitions.

1. Regulation 4 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the definition of “Rifle Club” and inserting in its stead the following definition:—

“‘Rifle Club’ includes a Vulnerable Point Guard;”; and

(b) by inserting, after the definition of Rifle Club, the following definition:—

“‘Vulnerable Point Guard’ means a Guard for the protection of a Cable Station, Wireless Station or any other premises or place which, in the opinion of the Military Board, requires the protection of a Guard.”.

Active members.

2. Regulation 16 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “Cable Guards or Wireless Telegraph Guards” and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guards”.

Constitution of Vulnerable Point Guards.

3. Regulation 17 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the words “Cable Guards and Wireless Telegraph Guards” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guards”;

(b) by omitting the words “Cable Guards or “Wireless Telegraph Guards” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guards”;

(c) by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “for the protection of Cable Stations or “Wireless Telegraph Stations”;

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1939.

† Statutory Rules 1931, No. 120, as amended by Statutory Rules 1932, Nos. 47 and 108; 1934, No. 15; and 1936, No. 16.

4885.—25/25.8.1939.—Price 3d.


(d) by omitting from sub-regulation (5.) the words “Cable Guard or Wireless Telegraph Guard” and inserting in their stead the words “such Guard”; and

(e) by omitting from sub-regulation (6.) the words “Cable Guard or a Wireless Telegraph Guard” and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guard”.

Oath or Affirmation,

4. Regulation 19 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“(2.) Where a person undertakes to serve in a Vulnerable Point Guard, the form of oath or affirmation to be taken and subscribed by him in accordance with the last preceding sub-regulation shall be varied by the omission of the words ‘Australian Rifle Clubs’ (wherever occurring) and the insertion of the words ‘Vulnerable Point Guards’ in their stead.”.

Maintenance of discipline.

5. Regulation 34 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “Cable Guard or a Wireless Telegraph Guard” and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guard”.

Issue of rifles, &c.

6. Regulation 36 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (5.) the words “Cable Guards or Wireless Telegraph Guards” and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guards”.

Classification of “Efficient” or “Non-efficient”.

7. Regulation 40 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting the words “, including Cable Guard and Wireless Telegraph Guard members”.

Requirements for classification as efficient.

8. Regulation 41 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (c) the words “Cable Guard and Wireless Telegraph Guard members” and inserting in their stead the words “members of a Vulnerable Point Guard”; and

(b) by omitting from paragraph (d) the words “Cable Guard or a Wireless Telegraph Guard” and inserting in their stead the words “Vulnerable Point Guard”.

Free issue of ammunition.

9. Regulation 43 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) the words “, including members of Cable Guards and Wireless Telegraph Guards,”.

Annual return.

10. Regulation 60 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the word “statutory” (wherever occurring).

Efficiency grant.

11. Regulation 61 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Cable Guard or Wireless Telegraph Guard member” and inserting in their stead the words “member of a Vulnerable Point Guard”.

Expenditure of efficiency grant.

12. Regulation 64 of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Cable Guard or Wireless Telegraph Guard members” and inserting in their stead the words “any member of a Vulnerable Point Guard”.

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1939, No. 93, issued under the Defence Act 1903-1939, were enacted to amend the Australian Rifle Club Regulations in response to evolving national security needs during a period of heightened global tensions. The enactment of these regulations was authorised by the Governor-General in Council, reflecting the policy objective of ensuring that the defence forces are adequately equipped to safeguard critical infrastructure. These amendments aim to streamline and enhance the operational readiness of guards responsible for protecting vital installations such as cable and wireless stations by incorporating them under the broader category of Vulnerable Point Guards. The regulations redefine and expand the scope of the Australian Rifle Club to include these guards, ensuring that they receive the necessary support and resources to maintain national security.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1939 No. 93, made under the Defence Act 1903-1939, amends the Australian Rifle Club Regulations to broaden the scope of protection provided by Rifle Clubs to include Vulnerable Point Guards. These guards are designated for the protection of Cable Stations, Wireless Stations, or any other premises deemed to require such protection by the Military Board. The regulations apply to active members of Rifle Clubs, including those who serve as Vulnerable Point Guards, and encompass various aspects such as the constitution of these guards, the administration of oaths or affirmations, maintenance of discipline, and the issue of rifles and ammunition. These amendments ensure that the provisions previously applicable to Cable Guards and Wireless Telegraph Guards are now extended to Vulnerable Point Guards, reflecting a broader national security context. The regulations apply nationwide, encompassing all Rifle Clubs operating within Australia, and no specific exclusions or exemptions are stated within the text of these regulations.

Key Provisions

The main sections of these regulations (C1939L00093) pertain to the amendment of the Australian Rifle Club Regulations, particularly focusing on the inclusion and definition of "Vulnerable Point Guards" within the scope of the regulations. Regulation 1 amends the definition of "Rifle Club" to include "Vulnerable Point Guards", which are defined as guards for the protection of Cable Stations, Wireless Stations, or other premises deemed necessary by the Military Board. Regulation 2 modifies the membership criteria to replace "Cable Guards or Wireless Telegraph Guards" with "Vulnerable Point Guards". Regulation 3 replaces references to "Cable Guards and Wireless Telegraph Guards" with "Vulnerable Point Guards" throughout the regulations, and Regulation 4 modifies the oath or affirmation for members serving in such guards to reflect this change. Other regulations, such as Regulation 5, Regulation 6, and Regulation 8, similarly replace references to Cable Guards and Wireless Telegraph Guards with Vulnerable Point Guards in the context of discipline, rifle issuance, and efficiency classification. Regulation 11 and Regulation 12 adjust the efficiency grant and its expenditure to account for members of Vulnerable Point Guards. The regulations impose several obligations and requirements on parties governed by them. Firstly, they require that Vulnerable Point Guards be constituted and maintained under the regulations, with members required to take an oath or affirmation specific to these guards. These guards must adhere to the same standards of discipline and efficiency as other Rifle Clubs. Members of Vulnerable Point Guards are entitled to receive rifles and ammunition, and the regulations mandate that these members meet certain efficiency standards. Additionally, the regulations stipulate the submission of an annual return, which is now required to be submitted by Rifle Clubs, including those that constitute Vulnerable Point Guards. The regulations do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, given the military nature of the subject matter and the context of national defence, it can be inferred that breaches of these regulations, such as failure to maintain discipline or efficiency standards, could have serious consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the regulations themselves, they would likely be subject to the broader Defence Act 1903-1939 or other applicable military laws, which could include both civil and criminal penalties, potentially including fines, imprisonment, or other disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by military authorities.

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