OFFICERS’ COMPENSATION.
No. 36 of 1912.
An Act to provide for Compensation to be paid on Retirement or on Decease of certain Officers of the Commonwealth.
[Assented to 24th December, 1912.]
Preamble.
BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Officers’ Compensation Act 1912.
Payments to be made.
2. There shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, the following sums:—
To widow of Quartermaster-Sergeant M. Meaney, New South Wales. | £105 | 16 | 0 |
To widow of Major A. G. H. Morris, Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales | 225 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of Edward Young, Naval Forces, Victoria............ | 30 | 0 | 0 |
To trustee to be appointed by the Treasurer for the benefit of the daughter of the late Arthur Campbell, gunner instructor, Naval Forces, Queensland | £112 | 0 | 0 |
The widow of Michael James Collins, Stoker. Naval Forces, Queensland | 50 | 12 | 6 |
The trustees of Major F. L. Knowles, District Paymaster, South Australia | 130 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of Thomas Bruton, 4th class Clerk, Department of Trade and Customs, Victoria | 118 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of Thomas Alexander, Examining Officer, Department of Trade and Customs, Newcastle, New South Wales | 100 | 0 | 0 |
To trustees to be appointed by the Treasurer for the benefit of the widow and children of S. E. Rowe, Engineman, Oodnadatta Railway, South Australia | 200 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of Richard James Sexton, Clerk, Post Office, Port Adelaide | 130 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of James Beatton, Postmaster, Port Augusta, South Australia | 151 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of E. V. Gosbell, Letter Carrier, Parkes, New South Wales. | 69 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of William Wallace, Clerical Assistant, Postmaster-General’s Department, New South Wales | 95 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of James Arthur Thompson, Chief Accountant and Finance Member, Central Administration, Defence Department | 350 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of J. W. Sawyer, Foreman Saddler, Postmaster-General’s Department, Victoria | 84 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of J. A. Stewart, Lineman-in-Charge, Kyamba, New South Wales | 100 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of C.V. Crow, Postmaster, Kyabram, Victoria......... | 105 | 0 | 0 |
To widow of staff Sergeant Major Frederick Wm. Jenner, Instructional Staff, New South Wales | 91 | 10 | 0 |
Total...................................... | £2,246 | 18 | 6 |
Overview
The Officers’ Compensation Act 1912 was enacted to provide for compensation to be paid on the retirement or death of certain officers of the Commonwealth. This Act was assented to on 24th December 1912, by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act aims to ensure that the widows and dependents of officers who have died in the service of the Commonwealth receive financial support, thereby addressing a gap in the provision of financial security for the families of deceased Commonwealth officers. The compensation outlined in the Act was appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to provide payments to specific beneficiaries, including widows and children of deceased officers from various departments and services within the Commonwealth.
Scope and Application
The Officers’ Compensation Act 1912 applies to specific officers of the Commonwealth, including their widows and beneficiaries, who fall within the designated categories and circumstances outlined in the Act. These categories encompass various military ranks, such as Quartermaster-Sergeant, Major, and Stoker, as well as civilian positions within departments like Trade and Customs, the Postmaster-General’s Department, and the Defence Department. The Act provides for financial compensation to be paid upon the retirement or death of these officers, ensuring that their widows and other beneficiaries receive a designated sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The legislation extends to the Commonwealth jurisdiction, applying across states and territories, and mandates payments to be made to beneficiaries specified within the Act. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the text, and the application of the Act is not extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The Officers' Compensation Act 1912 (section 1) is designed to provide compensation to the widows and dependents of certain officers of the Commonwealth who have died or retired. Under section 2, specific sums are to be paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to these beneficiaries. The act lists a total of £2,246,186 to be distributed to various individuals, including widows and trustees for the benefit of children and other dependents. These payments are intended to provide financial support to those left behind by officers who have served the Commonwealth.
The act imposes the obligation on the Commonwealth to disburse the specified sums to the designated beneficiaries as outlined in section 2. The government must ensure that these payments are made in a timely and efficient manner, and where necessary, appoint trustees to manage the funds for minor beneficiaries. The Treasurer is tasked with appointing these trustees, as stated in the act, to ensure that the funds are used for the benefit of the rightful recipients.
The act itself does not detail any specific offences, penalties, or civil or criminal consequences for non-compliance. However, the nature of the act suggests that failure to make the payments as specified could lead to legal action by the beneficiaries or their legal representatives. While the act does not explicitly state maximum penalties for breaches, the obligation to pay is clear and the failure to do so could result in civil liability for the Commonwealth. Additionally, any misuse or mismanagement of the funds by appointed trustees could lead to legal consequences, including potential criminal charges if fraud or other illegal activities are involved.