STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 4.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-12.
Regulations (Provisional) Governing the Entry, Training, and Pay of Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going).
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910-12 should come into immediate operation, and, further, should be taken to have come into operation on and from the 1st day of July, 1914, and make the Regulations to come into operation accordingly as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this fourteenth day of January, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE.
Regulations (Provisional) Governing the Entry, Training, and Pay of Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going).
Amendments.
Cancel Regulation 10 and substitute the following in lieu thereof:—
10. Second and Third Mates of British or British Colonial ocean-going steamers of not less than 3,000 tons, and Fourth Mates if ship is over 5,000 tons, are eligible to become Sub-Lieutenants provided that they—
(a) have served not less than three and a half years at sea, holding officers’ certificates;
(b) have satisfactory testimonials for sea service, and bear a very good character;
(c) possess either a Master’s Certificate, or a Provisional Certificate of Competency as a Master;
(d) certify that they intend to follow the sea as a profession.
Add new Regulation 13a.
13a. The Governor-General may grant temporary Acting Commissions in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going), in such ranks as may be deemed appropriate, to persons not belonging to the Reserve, who volunteer in times of emergency to serve in ships of the Mercantile Marine, or other ships, temporarily commissioned
C.389.—Price 3d.
for the Royal Australian Navy (or in ships belonging to the Royal Australian Navy when temporary transfer to such ships may be necessary), either with or without the issue of a Proclamation calling out the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going).
Temporary Acting Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going) are entitled, while so employed, to the rank, pay, and allowances of the corresponding ranks in its Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going) or to such special pay and allowances as may be decided upon at the time of the engagement.
Temporary Acting Officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going), while employed as such, to be treated in all other respects as officers of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going).
Regulation 24.—Add the following:—
Officers are not to be discharged before the full period of training for which they have been appointed has expired, unless the concurrence of the Director of Naval Reserves has been previously obtained.
Regulation 32.—Amend by adding after the words “receive pay as follows”:—
Lieutenant Commanders, 21s. per diem and 1s. per diem uniform allowance.
Regulation 37.—Amend rates of Training Fees to read as follows:—
Commanders | |
Lieutenant Commanders | £25 |
Lieutenants | |
Sub-Lieutenants, £20. | |
Add new Regulation 38a.—
38a. The payment of training fees will also be dependent upon the conduct of the Officer being satisfactory, and the training fee will be forfeited or suspended in every case where the Naval Board may consider that the Officer’s conduct, either while borne in one of H.M. or H.M.A. ships, or during the civil employment, is unsatisfactory.
Regulation 44.—Amend rates of Equipment Allowance to read as follows:—
Commanders | |
Lieutenant Commanders | £50. |
Lieutenants | |
Sub-Lieutenants, £40. | |
Midshipmen, £30. | |
Regulation 45—
Alter the number of this Regulation to read 45b.
Add new Regulation 45—
45. Lieutenants of not less than ten years’ seniority in that rank who have performed such particularly good service as is considered to be deserving of promotion, shall be eligible for promotion to the rank of Commander.
Add new Regulation 45a.—
45a. A Lieutenant will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on attaining eight years’ seniority in rank of Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Commanders of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going), whatever their seniority may be, are in all matters of command and in all details relating to the duties of the Fleet and the discipline and interior economy of H.M. or H.M.A. ships, to be held subject to the authority of any Officer of the Royal Navy or Royal Australian Navy, not below the rank of Lieutenant, who may be in charge of the executive duties of the ship, or in charge of any other special service or duty, of whatever seniority such Officer may be.
Regulation 51—
In paragraph 1, before “Lieutenants,” add “Lieutenant Commanders and”
In paragraph 2, for “Lieutenants,” read “Lieutenant Commanders,”
Amend Regulation 51 by inserting after the words “The age for compulsory retirement shall be”, the following:—
“Commander, 50.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Naval Defence Act 1910-12 was enacted to provide for the defence of the Commonwealth by means of a naval force, and for other purposes. It was introduced to address the need for a well-structured and efficient naval reserve force to support the Royal Australian Navy. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia and its primary policy objective was to establish a comprehensive framework for the organisation, training, and management of naval reserves. The Provisional Regulations under this Act, issued in 1915, aimed to provide immediate operational guidelines for the entry, training, and pay of officers within the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going), particularly in response to the urgent needs arising from the First World War. These regulations were designed to ensure that the reserve force was adequately prepared and structured to meet the demands of wartime naval operations.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations Under the Naval Defence Act 1910-12, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1915, No. 4, govern the entry, training, and pay of officers within the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going). These regulations primarily apply to prospective and existing officers, including second and third mates of British or British Colonial ocean-going steamers of not less than 3,000 tons, and fourth mates if the ship is over 5,000 tons, who wish to become sub-lieutenants. These regulations establish eligibility criteria, which include a minimum of three and a half years of sea service holding officers’ certificates, satisfactory testimonials for sea service, a good character, and possession of either a Master’s Certificate or a Provisional Certificate of Competency as a Master. Additionally, the regulations allow the Governor-General to grant temporary Acting Commissions in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going) to persons not belonging to the Reserve, who volunteer in times of emergency to serve in ships of the Mercantile Marine or other temporarily commissioned ships of the Royal Australian Navy. These temporary officers are entitled to the same rank, pay, and allowances as corresponding ranks within the reserve. The regulations also outline the training fees, equipment allowances, and the conditions under which officers may be discharged or promoted, including specific provisions for compulsory retirement at the age of 50 for commanders. These regulations have a Commonwealth reach and apply to the entire nation, with no specific exclusions or exemptions mentioned within the text.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of these provisional regulations, under the Naval Defence Act 1910-12, set out the qualifications and requirements for entry into the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going) for Second and Third Mates of British or British Colonial ocean-going steamers of not less than 3,000 tons, and Fourth Mates if the ship is over 5,000 tons, to become Sub-Lieutenants (Reg. 10). These regulations also allow the Governor-General to grant temporary Acting Commissions to persons not belonging to the Reserve who volunteer in times of emergency to serve in ships of the Mercantile Marine or other ships temporarily commissioned for the Royal Australian Navy (Reg. 13a). Additionally, the regulations address the pay and allowances for these officers, including the addition of specific rates for Lieutenant Commanders and changes to Training Fees and Equipment Allowance (Regs. 24, 32, 37, 38a, 44, 45, 45a, 51).
These provisional regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the parties they govern. For example, Second and Third Mates of British or British Colonial ocean-going steamers of not less than 3,000 tons, and Fourth Mates if the ship is over 5,000 tons, must have served not less than three and a half years at sea, hold officers' certificates, have satisfactory testimonials for sea service, bear a very good character, and possess either a Master’s Certificate or a Provisional Certificate of Competency as a Master (Reg. 10). The regulations also specify that officers are not to be discharged before the full period of training for which they have been appointed has expired unless the Director of Naval Reserves has given their concurrence (Reg. 24). Furthermore, the payment of training fees is dependent upon the conduct of the officer being satisfactory, and the fee will be forfeited or suspended if the officer's conduct is deemed unsatisfactory (Reg. 38a).
The regulations also establish offences and penalties for breaches. For example, officers who fail to meet the satisfactory conduct requirements may forfeit their training fees (Reg. 38a). Additionally, any person found to be in breach of the regulations may be subject to disciplinary action by the Naval Board. However, the specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach are not detailed within these provisions. The regulations do, however, indicate that the Governor-General may grant temporary Acting Commissions to persons who volunteer in times of emergency, with these officers entitled to the rank, pay, and allowances of the corresponding ranks in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Sea-going) or to such special pay and allowances as may be decided upon at the time of the engagement (Reg. 13a).