STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 12.
REGULATION UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902-1913.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913 to come into operation forthwith. Such Regulation shall supersede the Provisional Regulation (Statutory Rules 1914, No, 157) under the said Act made on the fourth day of November, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
Dated this twenty-first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.
(Sgd.) R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
(Sgd.) W. M. HUGHES.
104f. Upon the approval of the Commissioner, officers of the General Division may be transferred as Acting Telegraphists, or Acting Clerical Assistants, to perform Telegraphists’ duties in the Head Telegraph Offices, or duties of Telegraphist or Clerical Assistant at other telegraphic centres in the Commonwealth, subject to the following conditions:—
(a) No transfer shall be made under the provisions of this Regulation to any existing vacancy for Telegraphist or Clerical Assistant while there is a qualified candidate available for such vacancy.
(b) The salary of an officer transferred as Acting Telegraphist or Acting Clerical Assistant shall be the same as that for which he is eligible in the position from which he is transferred, provided that the officer shall receive by way of allowance any difference between his salary and the amount he would receive, if, at the time of his transfer as Acting Telegraphist or Acting Clerical Assistant, he had been eligible for transfer to the Clerical Division as Telegraphist or Clerical Assistant, and had been so transferred.
(c) No officer shall be transferred as Acting Telegraphist or Acting Clerical Assistant unless he has passed a telegraphic test in sending and receiving by sound telegraph messages at the rate of twenty-five words a minute; and, in selecting officers for transfer, preference shall be given those who have competed at an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division.
(d) No officer who has not passed an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division shall be transferred unless he give an undertaking to the Chief Officer, in writing, that he will attend, immediately upon transfer, a school approved by the Chief Officer, with the object of passing an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division, and that he will compete at such examination within two years from
C.392.—Price 3d.
date of transfer. Subject to the production of receipts for fees for tuition at such school, accompanied by a satisfactory school report as to attendance, and attention to study, the officer shall be refunded the coat of fees paid up to an amount at the rate of £12 per annum.
(e) An officer who does not pass an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division prior to the completion of two years’ service as Acting Telegraphist or Acting Clerical Assistant may be transferred to the position in the General Division formerly occupied by him, or such other position not inferior in status, as the Commissioner nay direct.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 12, are regulations made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913, and they come into effect immediately. These regulations, issued by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, supersede the Provisional Regulation from 1914. The primary objective of these regulations is to provide a framework for the transfer of officers within the General Division, specifically as Acting Telegraphists or Acting Clerical Assistants, to undertake duties in Head Telegraph Offices or other telegraphic centres across the Commonwealth. The regulations are designed to ensure that transfers are made efficiently and with the necessary qualifications, thereby maintaining the integrity and functionality of the public service.
The regulations outline specific conditions for such transfers, including criteria for eligibility, salary provisions, and requirements for passing relevant examinations. For instance, transfers are contingent upon the availability of qualified candidates for existing vacancies, and officers must pass a telegraphic test and, where applicable, complete a school program to prepare for an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division. The overarching goal is to streamline the process of transferring officers while ensuring that they are adequately prepared for their new roles, thereby addressing gaps in the initial provisional regulations.
Scope and Application
This statutory regulation, made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913, outlines the conditions under which officers within the General Division can be transferred to positions as Acting Telegraphists or Acting Clerical Assistants in various telegraphic centres across the Commonwealth. The regulation applies to officers who are eligible for transfer and who have met specific criteria, including passing a telegraphic test at a specified rate and, if applicable, having competed in an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division. The regulation also specifies that no transfer can be made if a qualified candidate is available for the vacancy in question and mandates that officers undertake further education if they have not passed the requisite examination for transfer to the Clerical Division. The regulation further details the salary conditions and allowances applicable to transferred officers and stipulates that officers who fail to pass the transfer examination within two years may be returned to their previous positions or other positions deemed equivalent by the Commissioner. This regulation effectively governs the transfer process and sets out the terms and conditions that must be adhered to by both the officers and the administrative authorities involved.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of this Regulation (Statutory Rules 1915, No. 12) under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913 concern the transfer of officers within the General Division to perform duties as Acting Telegraphists or Acting Clerical Assistants in various telegraph offices across the Commonwealth. Section 104f outlines the conditions under which such transfers can be made. These include the requirement that no transfer can be made if there is a qualified candidate for the vacancy in question (104f(a)). The officer’s salary must remain the same, with allowances made for any discrepancies (104f(b)). The officer must also pass a telegraphic test and preference is given to those who have competed in an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division (104f(c)). Additionally, officers who have not passed such an examination must undertake to attend an approved school and pass the examination within two years, with certain expenses reimbursed (104f(d)). If the officer fails to pass the examination within two years of service, they may be returned to their previous position or another of equal status (104f(e)).
The Regulation imposes several obligations on the officers and entities it governs. Officers seeking transfer must meet specific qualifications, including passing a telegraphic test and, if necessary, attending an approved school to prepare for an examination for transfer to the Clerical Division (104f(c), 104f(d)). They must also commit to passing the examination within two years of their transfer, and failure to do so may result in their return to their previous position (104f(e)). The Commissioner has the authority to direct the terms of any such return (104f(e)). Furthermore, the Chief Officer must approve transfers and ensure that all conditions are met before any transfer takes place (104f(c), 104f(d)).
Breach of the conditions outlined in this Regulation can lead to various consequences. For instance, transferring an officer to a vacancy without ensuring a qualified candidate is available could be considered non-compliant with section 104f(a) and may lead to the nullification of the transfer. Similarly, failure to pass the required telegraphic test or to attend and pass the examination for transfer to the Clerical Division within the stipulated timeframe can result in the officer being returned to their previous position (104f(e)). While the Regulation does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, the consequences of such breaches are outlined in the terms of the transfers themselves, which include financial reimbursements for tuition fees under certain conditions (104f(d)).