STATUTORY RULES.
1919. No. 19.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910–1918.
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 Naval Defence Act 1910–1918, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-second day of January, 1919.
M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
A. POYNTON.
for Minister of State for the Navy.
Citation.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the “Fleet Reserve Regulations.”
Object.
2. The Royal Australian Fleet Reserve shall be a branch of the Citizen Naval Forces, and will be available for service with the Permanent Seagoing Forces in time of emergency.
Qualification for enrolment.
3. Candidates for enrolment—
(a) must be resident in Australia or serving in coastal or Australian-registered overseas vessels not trading outside the Indian and Pacific oceans;
(b) must be under 40 years of age at time of enrolment;
(c) must have served in the Seagoing Forces of the Royal Navy or the Royal Australian Navy or both for not less than seven years;
(d) must be in possession of one or more Good Conduct badges, and have borne a satisfactory character generally throughout the period of service in the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy, with “Very Good” character for the last two years of such service;
(e) must be in every way in robust health and physically fit for five years’ service in the Fleet Reserve, but the detailed medical requirements for first entry into the Permanent Seagoing Forces will not be insisted upon.
Applications for enrolment.
4. Candidates for enrolment in the Fleet Reserve may apply for enrolment at any time within twelve months before expiration of engagement in the Royal Australian Navy or within twelve months from date of discharge.
Naval Board may refuse enrolment.
5. The Naval Board may decline to accept any man for enrolment in the Fleet Reserve, and all enrolments will be subject to recommendation and be dependent upon vacancies existing. No candidate will be enrolled whose ability is assessed below “Satisfactory.”
C.17646.—Price 3d.
Period of engagement.
6. Ratings enrolling in the Fleet Reserve will be required to execute an engagement to serve for a period of five years. Re-enrolment for further periods of five years or until reaching the maximum age of 45 years will be permitted subject to physical fitness.
Training.
7. Members of the Fleet Reserve will be required to perform one month’s training afloat in the second and fourth years of each engagement.
Service in emergency.
8. Members of the Fleet Reserve will be liable to be called out for service by proclamation, when required.
(2). Members will also be allowed to serve voluntarily when their services are required, although the Reserve may not have been called out by proclamation. In the event of a proclamation being issued calling out the Reserve, men who may then be serving voluntarily will be required to continue service under such proclamation.
Pay and allowances.
9. During periods of training and voluntary service and when serving under proclamation, members will receive the pay and allowances (including deferred pay) of corresponding ratings in the Permanent Seagoing Forces, in addition to retainer. The rate of pay will be determined by the actual period of service in rating, including periods of training and including service performed whilst in the Fleet Reserve, but not including any time served in the Reserve whilst not employed.
Uniform.
10. When called out by proclamation each member will be paid a gratuity of £5 towards the cost of completing kit.
Retainer.
11. A retainer at the rate of £1 per calendar month, payable in arrear after training and quarterly during the last year of enrolment in the Fleet Reserve, will be paid to all members of the Fleet Reserve, subject to compliance with the regulations.
Sickness while serving.
12. If injured or sick during training or during service in the Fleet, members of the Fleet Reserve will be entitled to the same benefits as members of the Permanent Seagoing Forces.
Commencement of engagement, &c.
13. Engagement and retainer will commence from the day following discharge from the Permanent Seagoing Forces in the cases of ratings transferring direct, and from date of acceptance in regard to those who subsequently enrol.
Periodical report.
14. All members of the Fleet Reserve must report personally or by letter to the Registrar, Fleet Reserve, Navy Office, Melbourne, on 1st January, 1st April, 1st July, and 1st October in each year, stating their address and present employment.
Penalties.
15. Any member of the Fleet Reserve who fails to perform the prescribed training shall be liable to forfeit all benefits of the Reserve together with all retainers.
(2) Any member who, on account of failure to report himself regularly, cannot be traced when required to serve, or who fails to join his ship or depôt when called out by proclamation, will be treated as a deserter from the Naval Forces and will be liable to all the penalties of desertion.
Discipline.
16. Whilst borne on ship’s books for training or service, members will be subject to the same discipline as members of the Permanent Seagoing Forces.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett; Government Printer for the State of Victoria.