STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 220.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903–1915.
Regulations for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth—Amendments.
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 Defence Act 1903–1915 should come into immediate operation and make the Regulations to come into operation forthwith as provisional Regulations.
Dated this fifteenth day of November, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By his Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE.
Regulations for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth.
Amendments.
Sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) of Regulation 513(a) are cancelled, and the following substituted therefor:—
513a. (5) Questions affecting Supervisors of Rifle Clubs and Staffs, Inspectors of Rifle Ranges, Range Clerks, and Range Foremen, Staffs of Military Ranges.
(6) Where such is private property—the adjustment of leases and questions of acquisition.
Regulation 514 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
514. Before any Club can be formed, an application on Form R.C. 3, signed by not less than 30 male persons of or over the age of 16 years and under the age of 60 years, and who are not undergoing universal military training under Part XII. of the Defence Act 1903–1915, who must be natural-born or naturalized British subjects, and who are bonâ fide residents of the locality in which it is desired to form the Club, must be forwarded to the Supervisor of Rifle Clubs. Provided, however, that in the case of those persons who are temporarily exempted from compulsory training they may be allowed to become members of a Rifle Club during the period in which such temporary exemption is in force. Captains of Clubs will be held responsible that persons undergoing universal military training are not enrolled as members of Rifle Clubs. In special cases the Governor-General may authorize the formation of Club in remote districts with a less number than 30.
Regulation 514a is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
514a. Commissions as 2nd Lieutenants in the Reserve Forces, subject to the conditions prescribed in Regulation 59, may be granted to members of Rifle Clubs who are not subject to military training under Part XII. of the Defence Act 1903–1915, in a proportion not exceeding one commission to every 100 members of the total strength of Rifle Clubs in each Military District, provided that the member has passed the examination as prescribed from time to time for Lieutenants of Light Horse or Infantry (as the candidate may elect), is passed as medically fit by any duly qualified medical practitioner, and has been an efficient member of a Rifle Club for two consecutive years.
Regulation 517 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
517. Any person desiring to become a member of a Rifle Club must join the one whose recognised Head-Quarters are situated nearest to his place of residence, unless authority be granted by the District Commandant for him to join another Club. No person shall join a Rifle Club as an active member whilst he is on the roll of another Rifle Club, or whilst he is undergoing universal military training under Part XII. of the Defence Act 1903–1915.
Regulation 522 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
522. The Captain of a Club shall at once forward to the Supervisor of Rifle Clubs in the Military District in which the Club is situate a notification of the death, departure from the District, or resignation of any member. The Senior Officer of the Adjutant-General’s Branch in a District shall be the “Commanding Officer” of the Reservists within the Military District. Absence for a longer period than three months from a locality in which a Club is established shall mean departure from the district, and any member so absent, except on leave obtained from the Senior Officer of the Adjutant-General’s Branch of his Military District, shall be liable to be struck off the strength of the Club to which he belongs. Captains of Clubs will be held responsible that members eligible for universal military training under Part XII. of the Defence Act 1903–1915 are struck off the acting strength of the Club immediately they commence universal military training.
Regulation 522a is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
522a. Except in time of war, any active member of a Rifle Club who fails to perform the prescribed course of musketry for two consecutive years shall be struck off the roll of the Club by the District Commandant, and shall be ineligible to rejoin a Rifle Club for a period of twelve months from the date of his having been struck off.
Regulation 530a is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
530a. Captains of Clubs may, on application, be supplied with rifles and spare parts, &c., for active members of their Club at the price authorized from time to time in Military Orders. All supplies required from Ordnance Department are to be prepaid.
Rifles will be sold to active members of Rifle Clubs on a deferred payment system, the conditions of which will be published from time to time in Military Orders.
Regulation 531 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
531. (a) Rifles will be issued on loan to Rifle Clubs in accordance with such instructions as may from time to time be issued in Military Orders.
(b) The proportion of rifles issued to Rifle Clubs furnishing Cable Guards will be increased to provide for the issue of a rifle to each member of the Guard.
Regulation 535a is cancelled and the following substituted therefor: —
535a. In cases where a Club is prevented from carrying out the musketry course through its rifle range being temporarily closed, the District Commandant may, after due investigation, classify the members of such club as “efficient,” but the number so classified as “efficients” shall not exceed the number of “efficients” of the previous year. In the case of a range for a new Club being temporarily closed, a certain number of members not exceeding 30 may, with the approval of the Minister, be classified as “efficient”.
Regulation 537 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
537. Ammunition issued free annually to Clubs for the use of their members is to be expended during the year for which it is issued. Ammunition is not to be accumulated from year to year. Captains of Clubs will furnish a yearly return on or before the 15th July in each year, showing the balance of efficiency and musketry ammunition on hand, and the unexpended balance of musketry ammunition shall be deducted from the issue for the following year; the unexpended balance of efficiency ammunition shown by the Captain of the Club on the Annual Return to be on hand on 30th June may, at the discretion of the District Commandant, also be deducted, or further supplies withheld until the stock on hand is exhausted.
Regulation 539 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
539. Captains of Clubs will make arrangements for the collection and sale of empty cartridge cases; the proceeds of such sales to be credited to Club funds, and to be used only for Club purposes.
Regulation 540 (c) is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
540. (c) For new ranges—
(1) That the land upon which the range is situated is held by the Commonwealth under a permissive occupancy from the Crown; or
(2) If the land upon which the range is situated is private property, that it is held by the Commonwealth under a lease of approved conditions, and of at least five years’ duration. Under exceptional circumstances the Minister may approve of a less duration than five (5) years.
(3) All ranges shall be available for the Naval and Military Forces and Senior Cadets in the locality, and such Forces and Senior Cadets shall be permitted to use the range at such time or times as may be arranged between the Committee of the Club and the Officer Commanding such units.
Regulation 548 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
548. An efficiency grant of 5s., subject to the necessary provision being made by Parliament, will be made each year for every active member of a Rifle Club and an additional £1 for every Cable Guard member who fulfils the prescribed conditions and is classified as “efficient,” on the 30th June of any year for service performed during the twelve months immediately preceding.
Regulation 550 is cancelled and the following substituted therefor:—
550. Efficiency grants are not to be considered the property of, and cannot be claimed by, any individual, but will be handed over to the Captain of the Club for the purposes of meeting the expenses mentioned in Regulation 549. In the case of the £1 efficiency grant earned by Cable Guard members it will be paid to the member concerned.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C. 12337.—Price 3d.