Naval Reserve Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1933L00097 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1933. No. 97.

 

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-third day of August, 1933.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

for Minister of State for Defence

 

Amendment of naval Reserve Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1931, No. 35, as amended to this date.)

(Sixth Amendment.)

1. Regulation 33 is repealed and the following regulation is inserted in its stead :—

“33. The strength of Senior Naval Cadet detachments in each Naval Reserve Port Division shall be as approved by the Naval Board from time to time. Such detachments may be maintained by the enrolment of suitable youths, over, sixteen and under eighteen years of age, who are medically fit.”

2. After regulation 74, the following new regulation is inserted:—

“74a. A member who volunteers to perform training or to serve in one of H.M.A. Ships or Naval Establishments, without payment, may perform such training or serve for such period as the Naval Board approve.”

3. Regulation 81 is repealed and the following regulation is inserted in its stead:—

“ 81. A rating may be discharged at any time by a District Naval Officer for one or more of the following reasons:—

(a) inefficiency;

(b) misconduct;

(c) unsatisfactory attendance;

(d) changing his place of residence to a situation outside the vicinity of a Port Division;

(e) medical unfitness.”

1706—Price 3d.

4. Part X.—Discipline.—is amended by inserting, after Section 1.—General, the following new section:—

“Section 1a.—Good Conduct and Good Service Badges.

89a. Naval Reserve ratings shall be eligible for the award of Good Conduct Badges as prescribed for the Permanent Naval Forces inrespect of mobilized service as Reservists and of former active service in the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army and the Air Force. The award, deprivation and restoration of such badges shall be governed by the same conditions as for men of the Royal Australian Navy.

89b.—(1.) A Naval Reservist of or above the rating or relative rating of Able Seaman may be awarded Good Service Badges, not exceeding three in number, in respect of his service in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. They shall be granted only under the authority of the District Naval Officer.

(2.) The first badge may be awarded after four years’ qualifying service as prescribed in sub-regulation (3.) of this regulation, the second after eight years’ such service and the third after twelve years’ such Service, provided that for two years before the award the Reservist’s character has been recorded as not lower than “Very Good”.

(3.) The whole of a man’s service in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve subsequent to 31st October, 1929, shall count as qualifying service for the award of Good Service Badges except—

(a) time before attaining the age of eighteen years;

(b) time prior to absence from membership of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve for five years or more;

(c) time during which he failed to qualify as efficient by annual training as prescribed;

(d) any year during which his character was recorded as being lower than “Very Good”.

(4.) Subject to the approval of the Director, a rating may be deprived of one badge or more as a penalty for offences which, in the opinion of the District Naval Officer, are of sufficient gravity to warrant such punishment. A higher character than “ Good ” is not to be awarded to a rating for the year in which he has been deprived of a badge.

(5.) The District Naval Officer may restore badges of which a rating has been deprived after such rating has completed six months’ “Very Good” service for each badge.

(6.) The District Naval Officer may delegate his powers in connexion with the award, deprivation and restoration of Good Service Badges, during any prolonged absence from his command, but such delegation is not to be made without the prior approval of the Director.”

5. Regulation 96, sub-regulation (1.), is amended by omitting the words and figures “ or who receives injury while competing at a competition held in accordance with the provisions of regulation 84 ” after the word “duty” in the fifth line and inserting them immediately after the word “ duty ” in the third line.

6. Regulation 124 is amended—

(а) by omitting sub-regulation (2.) ;

(b) by renumbering sub-regulations (3.), (4.) and (5.) to read (2.), (3.) and (4.) respectively


7. Regulation 125 is repealed.

8. Regulations 128, 129, 130 and 131 are repealed and the following regulations are inserted in their stead:—

“ 128. A rating may be permitted to take up the following articles on repayment at the current issuing price:—

Boots, half, heavy..............

1 pair—Not more than one issue in each 3 years.

 

Mackintosh..................

1 No.—Not more than one issue in each 3 years.

 

Ribbon, Cap..................

1 No.—As necessary.

129.—(1.) A rating may be supplied on loan with such articles of equipment necessary in connexion with his training as the Naval Board may approve.

(2.) Articles of clothing which have been issued on loan are, on return, to be washed at Government expense before being re-issued.

(3.) Soiled bedding and blankets which have been issued on loan are, on return to store, to be washed and disinfected at Government expense before being placed in stock.

130. On completion of the period of loan any missing articles, if lost by neglect, will be charged for.

131. A rating shall be held personally responsible for the safe custody and preservation of articles issued on loan.”

9. Regulation 137 is amended by adding the following new sub-regulation:—

“(3.) No payment shall be made during peace time on account of Good Conduct Badges awarded under regulation 89a, and no payment shall be made at any time in regard to Good Service Badges awarded under regulation 89b.”

10. Regulation 160, sub-regulation (6.), is repealed and the following sub-regulation is inserted in its stead:—

“(6.) Any officer on whom this Decoration has been conferred may be deprived of it with the approval of the Sovereign; the Decoration may be restored with like approval.”

11. Regulation 161 is amended by adding the following new sub-regulation :—

“(10.) Any petty officer or man to whom this medal has been awarded may be deprived of it and the medal may be restored as prescribed by standing orders of the Naval Board”.

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1933 No. 97, enacted under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, address the need for updated regulations concerning the administration and management of the Naval Reserve. These regulations were made by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into operation immediately upon enactment. This legislative instrument seeks to streamline and modernise the existing framework governing the Naval Reserve, ensuring that it remains effective and relevant in meeting the nation's defence needs. The policy objective is to enhance the efficiency, discipline, and service quality within the Naval Reserve by providing clearer guidelines on enlistment, service conditions, and disciplinary measures, thus supporting the broader national defence strategy.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, as amended by these statutory rules, apply to members of the Naval Reserve, specifically the strength, enlistment, discipline, and service conditions of senior naval cadet detachments and ratings within the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. These regulations govern the operational aspects of the Naval Reserve, including enlistment criteria, service terms, and disciplinary measures, ensuring that members adhere to the standards and expectations set forth by the Naval Board. The scope of the regulations is national, applying across all Naval Reserve Port Divisions within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations explicitly exclude certain periods of service, such as those before the age of eighteen, extended absences from the Naval Reserve, periods of inefficiency, and years where the character record was less than "Very Good". Additionally, the regulations extend their application through subordinate instruments, allowing the Naval Board to approve specific details such as the strength of detachments and the terms of voluntary service in H.M.A. Ships or Naval Establishments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918 establish the framework for the management and operation of the Naval Reserve. Regulation 33 (1) stipulates that the strength of Senior Naval Cadet detachments in each Naval Reserve Port Division must be approved by the Naval Board, and these detachments can be maintained by the enrolment of suitable youths aged between sixteen and eighteen who are medically fit. Regulation 74a allows members who volunteer for unpaid training or service in H.M.A. Ships or Naval Establishments to perform such duties for a period approved by the Naval Board. Regulation 81 provides the criteria for the discharge of a rating, including inefficiency, misconduct, unsatisfactory attendance, relocation outside the vicinity of a Port Division, and medical unfitness. The obligations and requirements imposed by these regulations include the enrolment of medically fit youths aged between sixteen and eighteen in Senior Naval Cadet detachments, as per the Naval Board's approval (Regulation 33). Members who volunteer for unpaid training or service must have their period of service approved by the Naval Board (Regulation 74a). Ratings are subject to discharge under specific circumstances, such as inefficiency, misconduct, unsatisfactory attendance, relocation outside a Port Division, or medical unfitness (Regulation 81). Additionally, regulations cover the award and deprivation of Good Conduct and Good Service Badges (Regulations 89a and 89b), the issuance and return of articles of equipment and clothing (Regulations 128 to 131), and the handling of decorations (Regulations 160 and 161). Breaches of these regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences. For instance, a rating found to be in breach of the conditions for Good Conduct and Good Service Badges may be deprived of their badges (Regulations 89a and 89b). A rating who loses articles issued on loan due to neglect will be held personally responsible for the cost of replacement (Regulation 131). Additionally, officers and petty officers who have been awarded decorations may be deprived of these awards under specific conditions (Regulations 160 and 161). While the regulations do not specify maximum penalties, the consequences could include the loss of badges, financial liability for lost equipment, and the deprivation of honours and awards.

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