Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Financial and Allowance Regulations (Provisional) for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, enacted in 1913, were introduced to address the urgent need for provisional financial and allowance regulations for the military forces. This legislative instrument was created under the authority of the Defence Act 1903-1912, and was made by the Governor-General in Council, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary policy objective of these regulations was to provide a provisional framework for the financial and allowance requirements of the military forces, ensuring that officers and personnel were adequately compensated for their duties, particularly in relation to the provision of horses for military purposes. These provisional regulations aimed to establish clear guidelines for the provision of government remounts to officers when required for military duty, while also allowing for the hiring of private horses and the recovery of associated allowances. The regulations further outlined the process for officers to obtain necessary approvals and certificates for the use of their own horses for military service, ensuring that all such arrangements were properly authorised and documented. The regulations were designed to remain in effect until a more comprehensive set of regulations could be established, thereby addressing the immediate needs of the military forces during a period of urgency.

Scope and Application

The Financial and Allowance Regulations (Provisional) for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, as established under Statutory Rules 1913 No. 82, primarily apply to Officers of the Permanent Forces within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations address the provision of horses for these officers when required for military duty. If government remounts are available, officers will be provided with them; however, no special horses will be reserved for officers or any particular individual. In the event that government horses are unavailable, officers must make their own arrangements for hiring suitable horses and may claim an allowance for such hiring. The regulations stipulate that officers must obtain the approval of the District Commandant before making any hiring arrangements, and this approval must be accompanied by supporting receipts when the claim is presented for payment. The allowance is restricted to specific military duties as determined by the District Commandant, including camps of training, field manoeuvres, and other specified occasions. Veterinary and shoeing charges are not to be paid by the Department unless the officer owns and uses a suitable horse, in which case the owner will bear these costs. District Commandants are required to submit lists of officers who will need to be mounted during the following year for the Military Board's approval by a specified date. These provisions also extend to officers not under the command of District Commandants, with approval granted by the Heads of Military Departments or Commanding Officers as appropriate.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of this statutory rule detail the financial and allowance regulations for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, particularly focusing on the provision of horses for officers of the Permanent Forces. Regulation 100(a)(i) states that officers of the Permanent Forces should be provided with Government remounts when they need to be mounted for military duty, provided such remounts are available. It is crucial to note that no special horses are reserved for officers only, and all remounts are to be used without discrimination. Regulation 100(a)(ii) mandates that the Director of Army Quartermaster General (D.A.Q.M.G.) must furnish the Director of Pay and Military (D.P.M.) with monthly lists detailing the use of remounts by officers, including the specific duties that necessitate their use. These records are necessary for maintaining accurate accounts of the horses' earnings under contract rates. Regulation 100(b) outlines the procedures for officers when Government horses are unavailable. Officers must make their own arrangements for hiring suitable horses for military duties and can claim a specific allowance for such hiring. The allowance is ten shillings for each half-day and fifteen shillings for each whole day. However, before entering into any hiring arrangements, officers must obtain approval from the District Commandant, who must then approve the necessity for being mounted for the specific military duty. The approval, along with supporting receipts from the hirer, must accompany the claim when presented for payment. Regulation 100(b) further specifies that the allowance can only be claimed for military duties that, in the opinion of the District Commandant, necessitate officers being mounted. These duties include camps of training, field manoeuvres, staff tours, inspections, schools, mounted parades of mounted units, and special parades such as reviews. The obligations imposed by these regulations are quite clear and require strict adherence. Officers of the Permanent Forces must ensure that any use of Government remounts is properly recorded and reported by the D.A.Q.M.G. to the D.P.M. If officers need to hire their own horses, they must first obtain the necessary approval from the District Commandant. Furthermore, if an officer owns a horse suitable for military purposes, they must obtain a certificate from a Veterinary Officer confirming the horse’s suitability and fitness for military service. This certificate must be renewed at the end of each quarter and sent to the D.P.M. District Commandants are also obligated to forward lists of officers who require to be mounted during the following year to the Military Board for information and approval by the latest date of 15th June each year. The regulations do not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, non-compliance with these requirements could lead to administrative issues, including the denial of allowances or financial discrepancies. The seriousness of any potential breach would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and consequences could range from financial penalties to disciplinary actions depending on the extent of the non-compliance. The precise penalties would be determined by the relevant military authorities in accordance with existing military law and regulations.