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

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1909, No. 139, Provisional Regulations under the Defence Acts 1903-1904, was enacted in 1909 by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, due to the urgency of the matter. These regulations came into operation as of 1 July 1909. The objective of these provisional regulations was to establish financial and allowance regulations for the military forces of the Commonwealth, addressing the need to provide extra pay for certain qualified specialists within the Australian Field Artillery and Australian Garrison Artillery. These regulations were a response to the necessity of providing adequate compensation and incentives to skilled personnel in specific roles within the military forces.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Defence Acts 1903-1904, particularly Statutory Rules 1909 No. 139, pertain to the financial and allowance regulations for the military forces of the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations apply specifically to personnel within the Australian military forces, including members of the Australian Field Artillery and Australian Garrison Artillery, focusing on their rates of pay and allowances. The application of these regulations is governed at the national level, with the Commonwealth of Australia exercising jurisdiction over the military forces and their remuneration. The regulations include specific provisions for the payment of extra allowances to qualified specialists within certain artillery units, as detailed in Regulation 95 concerning the rates of pay for field and garrison artillery. The scope of the regulations includes the detailed enumeration of roles eligible for these additional payments, such as gun-layers, signallers, range-takers, telegraphists, among others, within the specified units. The regulations extend their application through subordinate instruments, ensuring that the allowances are systematically integrated into the military payroll structure.

Key Provisions

The Provisional Regulations under the Defence Acts 1903-1904, specifically Statutory Rules 1909 No. 139, include provisions that pertain to financial and allowance regulations for the military forces of the Commonwealth. Section 95, which deals with the rates of pay for Field and Garrison Artillery, is amended by adding a footnote (Section 95). This footnote stipulates that an extra annual payment of £1 will be made to qualified "Specialists" in the Australian Field Artillery and Australian Garrison Artillery. The distribution of this extra pay is specified for different categories within each battery and company, such as Gun-layers, Signallers, Range-takers, and Telegraphists. These regulations impose clear obligations on the military forces by setting forth the financial allowances for certain specialised roles within the artillery units. Each qualified specialist in specified roles within the Field and Garrison Artillery is entitled to this additional annual payment of £1, provided they meet the qualifications and are within the numerical limits set out in the regulations. These roles include positions such as Gun-layers, Signallers, Range-takers, and Telegraphists, each with specific allocations based on the needs and structure of the respective batteries and companies. Breaches of these regulations, while not explicitly detailed in the text, would typically involve non-compliance with the financial allowances and conditions set for the specialists. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the provided text, generally, such breaches could lead to administrative or disciplinary actions within the military forces. In the broader context of Australian law, failure to adhere to statutory financial provisions could result in civil or criminal penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the breach.