STATUTORY RULES.
1916. No. 75.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910–1912.
Regulations and Instructions (Provisional) for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (M).
I, SIR ARTHUR STANLEY, Governor of the State of Victoria and its Dependencies, in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting as the Deputy of the Governor-General in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910–1912 should come into immediate operation, and further should be taken to have come into operation on and from the 1st day of March, 1915, and make the Regulations to come into operation accordingly as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this third day of May, One thousand nine hundred and sixteen.
A. L. STANLEY,
Deputy of Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
J. A. JENSEN.
Regulations and Instructions (Provisional) for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (M).
Amendments.
Section 1—Officers.
Insert new Regulation 4a : —
4a. A Lieutenant will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on attaining eight years’ seniority in rank of Lieutenant.
Lieutenant-Commanders of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (M), whatever their seniority may be, are in all matters of command and in all details relating to the duties of the Fleet and the discipline and interior economy of H.M. or H.M.A. ships, to be held subject to the authority of any Officer of the Royal Navy or Royal Australian Navy, not below the rank of Lieutenant, who may be in charge of the executive duties of the ship, or in charge of any other special service or duty, of whatever seniority such Officer may be.
Regulation 13. After “Commanders” insert:—
“ Lieutenant-Commanders................... | 52” |
Section 5—Arms, Accoutrements, and Ammunition.
Regulation 63. After “Rifle and Field Exercises” delete “Part VII ” and insert in, lieu “ Part XV”
C.113.—Price 3d.
Section 6—Pay and Allowances.
Regulation 70. After “Commander, Engineer-Commander” insert:—
— | No. of days training. | Rate per day. | Pay. | Retainer. | Total. |
Lieutenant-Commander Engineer-Lieutenant-Commander | | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. |
21 | 21 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1916 No. 75, titled "Regulations and Instructions (Provisional) for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (M)," was enacted to address the urgent need for provisional regulations governing the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, necessitated by the outbreak of World War I. This statutory rule was certified by Sir Arthur Stanley, acting as the Deputy of the Governor-General, in accordance with the Constitution and the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The urgency and the specific need to define command structures and roles within the Naval Reserve are reflected in the policy objective to ensure that the regulations could come into immediate effect from 1 March 1915. The provisions aim to clarify ranks, command authority, and related duties to facilitate the operational readiness and efficiency of the Naval Reserve during the war.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910–1912 apply specifically to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (M), governing various aspects of the service, including the promotion of officers, the handling of arms and accoutrements, and the terms of pay and allowances. These regulations, which came into immediate operation from 1 March 1915, address the promotion criteria for Lieutenants to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, stipulating that this advancement occurs upon attaining eight years of seniority. Furthermore, the regulations delineate the command hierarchy, ensuring that Lieutenant-Commanders of the Reserve are subject to the authority of any Royal Navy or Royal Australian Navy Officer of at least the rank of Lieutenant, regardless of the latter's seniority. Additionally, the regulations outline specific provisions regarding the payment and allowances for Lieutenant-Commanders, including detailed calculations for daily training rates, pay, retainer, and total compensation. These provisions underscore the comprehensive nature of the regulations, which were enacted to address urgent needs during a critical period of national defence.
Key Provisions
The Statutory Rules 1916, No. 75, provisional regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910–1912, introduce several key provisions for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR). Firstly, Section 1 of the regulations introduces a new Rule 4a that establishes the promotion criteria for Lieutenants in the RANR. According to this rule, a Lieutenant will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander upon achieving eight years of seniority in the rank of Lieutenant (Section 1, Rule 4a). Additionally, it clarifies that Lieutenant-Commanders, regardless of their seniority, must defer to the authority of any Royal Navy or Royal Australian Navy Officer not below the rank of Lieutenant who is in charge of the ship or any special service or duty (Section 1, Rule 4a).
These regulations also impose specific obligations on the parties they govern. For instance, they detail the pay and allowances for Lieutenant-Commanders, including the number of training days, the rate per day, and the total amount of pay and retainer (Section 6, Regulation 70). The new Rule 4a introduces an additional rank within the RANR, requiring adherence to the specified promotion criteria and command structures. These obligations ensure a structured progression and adherence to authority within the ranks of the RANR.
The regulations outline potential consequences for breaches of the provisions they establish. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the text, it is implied that failure to comply with the promotion criteria and command structure outlined in Section 1 could result in disciplinary action or other administrative consequences. The precise nature of these consequences would likely be determined by the Naval Defence Act 1910–1912 or further legislative instruments. The regulations, therefore, establish a framework within which the RANR operates, with clear expectations and consequences for non-compliance.