STATUTORY RULES.
1918. No. 321.
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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 fourth day of December, 1918.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
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Amendment of Financial and Allowance Regulations.
Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets are amended as follows:—
(1) Regulation 46 is amended to read as follows:—
“46. Requisitions for Stationery, Office Requisites, &c., are to be submitted half-yearly in the months of October and April to the Comptroller of Stationery and Printing at Head-quarters Central Administration, who after approval will place the necessary orders with the Government contractors and will see that the accounts for the supplies are in the hands of the Chief Accountant or of the District Paymaster before the close of one clear month after supply.”
(2) Regulation 137 is amended by deleting the words:—
“(3) Printing, Stationery, Advertising, Postage Stamps, and Office Requisites, not including typewriters, without the approval of the Commandant”
and substituting in lieu thereof the following words:—
“Advertising and Postage Stamps.”
(3) Regulation 147 is amended by deleting the sentence commencing with the words “With the approval” and ending with the words “payment into Revenue.”
(4) Regulation 162 is repealed.
(5) Sub-regulation (a) of regulation 310 is amended by inserting next after the word “daily” the following words:—
“or, in the case of Militia Accounts, at least once a week,”
(6) Regulation 320 is amended by adding the following words, to take effect as from 16th October, 1918:—
“Provided however that during the period of the present war, members of the Permanent Forces and Mobilized Militia Units shall for every day while in hospital suffering from venereal disease forfeit—
(i) One-third of their total daily rate of pay.
(ii) All extra duty pay of which they were in receipt prior to admission to hospital.
(iii) All allowances other than separation allowance.”
(7) Regulation 340a is amended by adding the following paragraph, to take effect as from 1st January, 1918:—
“(5) When a member of the Australian Army Pay Corps is summarily discharged for reasons other than misconduct or inefficiency, payment of seven days’ pay in lieu of notice may be made.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Acting Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules of 1918 No. 321, enacted under the Defence Act 1903-1918, were introduced to amend the Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets. This legislative instrument was made by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary objective of these regulations was to address financial and administrative procedures concerning the procurement and management of supplies and allowances for military personnel, ensuring that requisitions for stationery and office requisites are handled efficiently and accounts for supplies are settled promptly. The regulations also introduced penalties for members of the Permanent Forces and Mobilized Militia Units who contract venereal diseases while in hospital, and provisions for the payment of severance pay to members of the Australian Army Pay Corps who are discharged under certain conditions.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1918 No. 321, made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, pertain to financial and allowance regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets, applying specifically to the members of the Australian Military Forces, including both the Permanent Forces and Mobilized Militia Units. These regulations impact the geographic jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, encompassing all military personnel engaged in defence activities across Australia. The regulations outline specific procedures for requisitions, financial allowances, and penalties for misconduct, particularly addressing the forfeiture of pay and allowances for members suffering from venereal disease while in hospital during wartime. Additionally, they provide provisions for summary discharge and compensation for members of the Australian Army Pay Corps. The regulations also include amendments concerning stationery, office requisites, and advertising, requiring specific approvals and detailing the accountability of financial transactions.
Key Provisions
The Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1918 primarily address financial and allowance matters for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets. Notably, Regulation 46 (1) has been amended to require requisitions for stationery, office requisites, and other items to be submitted biannually, in October and April, to the Comptroller of Stationery and Printing. Upon approval, the Comptroller will place orders with government contractors and ensure that the accounts are settled within one month of the supplies being made. Regulation 137 (2) has been updated to exclude printing, stationery, advertising, postage stamps, and office requisites (excluding typewriters) from the Commandant’s approval requirements. Regulation 147 has been altered by removing the clause that previously allowed for the payment of certain items into the Revenue account.
Further amendments include the deletion of Regulation 162 (4), which is now repealed. Regulation 310 (5) has been updated to mandate that Militia Accounts be settled at least once a week, in addition to the existing daily requirement. Regulation 320 now includes a provision (6) that members of the Permanent Forces and Mobilized Militia Units, while hospitalised for venereal disease, will forfeit a significant portion of their pay and allowances. Specifically, they will lose one-third of their total daily pay, all extra duty pay, and all allowances except for separation allowance. Regulation 340a (7) has been amended to allow for the payment of seven days' pay in lieu of notice to a member of the Australian Army Pay Corps who is summarily discharged for reasons other than misconduct or inefficiency.
These Regulations impose specific procedural and financial obligations on the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets. The amendments to the Financial and Allowance Regulations require meticulous submission and approval processes for requisitions and payments. Members of the forces and cadets must comply with these updated procedures to ensure proper financial management and accountability. For instance, the requirement to submit biannual requisitions to the Comptroller of Stationery and Printing mandates precise scheduling and record-keeping. Additionally, the new financial penalties for members hospitalised with venereal disease emphasise the importance of adherence to health and conduct standards.
Failure to comply with these Regulations could result in various civil or administrative consequences. For instance, submitting requisitions outside the specified months of October and April could lead to delays in obtaining necessary supplies, thereby affecting operational efficiency. Non-compliance with the new financial penalties for members hospitalised with venereal disease could result in significant financial loss for the affected personnel. Furthermore, the amendment to Regulation 340a regarding pay in lieu of notice for summarily discharged members of the Australian Army Pay Corps must be strictly followed to ensure fair and lawful treatment of personnel. Any breaches of these provisions could lead to legal challenges or administrative actions against the non-compliant parties.