War Financial Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1919L00208 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1919. No. 208.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.

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 Defence Act 1903-1918, to come into operation, forthwith.

Dated this fourteenth day of August, 1919.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

E. J. RUSSELL,

Acting Minister of State for Defence.

 

Amendment of War Financial Regulations.

War Financial Regulations are amended as follows:—

(1) Regulation 81 is amended by adding the following sub-regulations:—

(c) For a widower munition worker’s only child under 16 years of age in the care of a non-dependant guardian, an allowance of 15s. per week for a period of eight weeks on and from the date of embarkation (or where the voyage exceeds 8 weeks, for the period of the voyage plus one week) and 2s. per week thereafter may be paid.

To take effect from 1st October, 1917.

(d) For a widower munition worker’s children in the care of a non-dependant guardian, allowances of 20s. per week for the eldest child under 16 years and 2s. per week for each younger child may be paid during the term of the agreement.

To take effect from 1st September, 1917.

(e) For a munition worker’s “unmarried wife” wholly dependent upon the worker, dependants’ allowance as for a wife may be paid.

To take effect from 1st March, 1918.

(2) Regulation 83 is amended by deleting sub-regulations (d) and (f), and inserting the following in lieu of sub-regulation (d):—

(d) Separation Allowance may be paid to the dependants of a navvy under the same conditions as to the dependants of a private in the A.I.F. and for all dependants for whom Separation Allowance is paid on account of a private in the A.I.F., provided, however, Separation Allowance shall not be paid to a navvy’s dependants who are living in the United Kingdom.

To take effect from 1st November, 1917.


(3) The following regulation is inserted next after regulation 93:—

93a. For a navvy’s illegitimate child for which a Court Order has been made and when the navvy has declared himself to be without dependants, the Commandant may approve of a deduction from special allowance of not more than 1s. per diem.

To take effect from 1st July, 1918.

(4) The following regulation is inserted next after regulation 86:—

86a. (1) A navvy who is under treatment in hospital in the United Kingdom before beginning work may receive an allowance of 1s. per diem and the cost of treatment may be borne by the Commonwealth.

(2) A navvy not able to begin work in the United Kingdom owing to illness and not in hospital may receive an allowance of 4s. per diem.

(3) The dependants of a navvy who is delayed by illness in beginning work in the United Kingdom, shall receive without charge to the navvy an allowance of 1s. 6d. per diem during the period of such delay.

To take effect from 1st September, 1916.

The following regulation are inserted next after regulation 94:—

95. Funeral expenses not exceeding £10 may be paid on account of a munition worker or navvy who dies abroad or in Australia before discharge.

To take effect from 1st September, 1918.

96. When munition workers or navvies return to Australia after the signing of the Armistice, allowance to dependants shall continue to be paid for one week after arrival in their home State.

To take effect from 1st January, 1919.

97. Munition workers and navvies who have made their own arrangements for return to Australia may be paid a contribution from the Department, towards the cost of passage as follows:—

Munition Workers.—The rate at the time of their return payable by the Department for a sergeant’s passage per transport.

Navvies.—The rate at the time of their return payable by the Department for a private’s passage per transport.

98. Payment may be made as a charge against Public Funds in settlement of debts on account of board and lodging contracted by Munition Workers or Navvies who died in indigent circumstances during the course of their agreement provided that the amount so paid shall not in any case exceed £5.

 

 

 

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1919 No. 208, issued under the Defence Act 1903-1918, was enacted to address financial and support issues for munition workers and navvies during and after World War I. The regulations were introduced by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The policy objective behind these regulations was to provide financial support and allowances to the dependants of munition workers and navvies, ensuring they received necessary assistance during and after their service. This included provisions for allowances to children of widowed munition workers, support for unmarried wives of munition workers, separation allowances, and funeral expenses. The regulations also provided for medical allowances and passage contributions for returning workers.

Scope and Application

The Regulations made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, as set out in Statutory Rules 1919 No. 208, apply specifically to the financial support and allowances for munition workers and navvies during and after their service, particularly focusing on their dependants. These regulations extend to the Commonwealth of Australia and are applicable to individuals categorised as munition workers and navvies who were engaged in war-related activities, as well as their dependants. The financial provisions outlined in the regulations include allowances for children, spouses, and other dependants, along with provisions for funeral expenses and repatriation support. Notably, the regulations also address specific conditions under which certain allowances can be withheld or modified, such as for navvies' dependants living in the United Kingdom or those who have illegitimate children. The regulations are intended to take effect from specified dates between September 1916 and January 1919, ensuring that the financial support provisions are implemented in a timely manner in relation to the end of the war and the return of service personnel to Australia.

Key Provisions

The statutory regulations outlined in C1919L00208, made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, primarily focus on amending the War Financial Regulations. The amendments (sections 1-9) introduce new allowances and conditions for payment for various categories of individuals. For instance, Regulation 81 introduces allowances for a widower munition worker’s only child under 16 years of age in the care of a non-dependant guardian, as well as for children in the care of a non-dependant guardian (section 1(c) and (d)). It also allows for dependants’ allowances for a munition worker’s unmarried wife who is wholly dependent on the worker (section 1(e)). Regulation 83 introduces a separation allowance for the dependants of a navvy under specific conditions (section 2). Additional regulations include provisions for allowances for navvy’s illegitimate children (section 3), allowances for navvies under treatment or delayed by illness (section 4), funeral expenses for munition workers or navvies who die abroad or in Australia (section 5), and continuation of allowance to dependants upon return to Australia (section 6). These regulations impose specific obligations on the relevant parties. For example, munition workers and navvies must comply with the conditions set forth to be eligible for the allowances. The government or relevant authorities must process and approve applications for these allowances, ensure payments are made within the stipulated timelines, and verify the eligibility of recipients. Additionally, the government must manage and disburse funds as per the provisions for funeral expenses and settlement of debts on account of board and lodging (sections 5 and 9). The regulations also establish consequences for non-compliance. Although the document does not specify detailed penalties for breach, it is implied that failure to adhere to the conditions for receiving allowances or mismanagement of funds could result in legal repercussions. Given the context and typical regulatory frameworks, such breaches might attract civil or administrative penalties, including fines or other corrective measures, although the exact penalties are not detailed in the text.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.