War Financial Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1918L00024 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1918. No. 24.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903–1917.

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 1903–1917 to come into operation forthwith.

Dated the thirtieth day of January, 1918.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

G. F. PEARCE,

Minister of State for Defence.

 

Amendment of War Financial Regulations.

Regulation 1 of War Financial Regulations is repealed, and the following new Regulation made in lieu thereof:—

1. Prior to embarkation, members of the Australian Imperial Force, with the exception of Nurses and Masseuses, shall be paid at the following rates of pay:—

Rank.

 

Pay.

 

 

Per Annum.

Major-General....................................................

 

£1,200

 

 

per Diem.

 

 

£.

s.

d.

Brigadier-General..................................................

2

5

0

Colonel........................................................

 

 

 

Lieutenant-Colonel.................................................

 

1

17

0

Major..........................................................

 

1

10

0

Captain.........................................................

 

1

2

6

Lieutenant.......................................................

0

15

0

2nd Lieutenant....................................................

 

 

 

Adjutant.................................

At rate of corresponding rank

 

..

 

Quartermaster.............................

 

 

 

Staff Sergeant (Wireless).............................................

 

 

 

Foreman Artificer (Mechanical Transport Unit)..............................

0

14

0

Technical Sergeant-Major (Flying Unit)...................................

 

 

 

Brigade or Regimental Sergeant-Major....................................

 

 

 

Brigade or Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant..............................

 

 

 

Armament Artificer.................................................

0

13

0

Warrant Officer, Class 1.............................................

 

 

 

Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant..........................................

 

 

 

Staff Sergeant-Major................................................

 

 

 

Squadron, Battery Troop, or Company Sergeant-Major.........................

 

 

 

Farrier Quartermaster-Sergeant.........................................

 

 

 

Flight Sergeant (Flying Unit)..........................................

 

 

 

Colour-Sergeant...................................................

0

11

0

Staff-Sergeant....................................................

 

 

 

Armourer Staff Sergeant.............................................

 

 

 

Sergeant-Cook....................................................

 

 

 

Wheeler, Saddler, or Farrier Staff-Sergeant.................................

 

 

 

C.15543.—Price 3d.

Amendment of War Financial Regulations—continued.

Rank.

 

Pay.

 

 

Per Diem

 

£.

s.

d.

Squadron, Battery, Troop, or Company Quartermaster-Sergeant

Orderly-room Sergeant....................................................

0

10

6

Farrier, Collarmaker, Wheeler, or Saddler-Sergeant.................................

Sergeant of Mechanical Transport or Flying Unit...................................

 

 

 

Sergeant.............................................................

 

 

 

Pioneer, Signalling, Transport, Armourer, Veterinary, or Band Sergeant....................

0

10

0

Sergeant Trumpeter......................................................

 

 

 

Corporal.............................................................

0

9

0

Armourer, Band, Shoeing-Smith, Signalling or Pay and Orderly-room Corporal..............

2nd Corporal ..........................................................

 

 

 

Bombardier...........................................................

0

8

0

Flying Unit............................................................

 

 

 

Air Mechanic, 1st Class (2nd Corporal).......................................

 

 

 

Mechanical Transport Unit—

 

 

 

Workshop Fitter, Turner, Blacksmith, Wheeler, Electrician (Mechanic or Artificer)..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driver, who ranks as 2nd Corporal..........................................

0

8

0

Flying Unit—..........................................................

Air Mechanic, 2nd Class.................................................

 

 

 

Railway Unit—.........................................................

 

 

 

Blacksmith, Fitter, Waggon Repairer, Boilermaker................................

 

 

 

Mechanical Transport Unit—

 

 

 

Cleaner..............................................................

 

 

 

Waggonman, Private, Motor Driver (except Motor Cyclist, and where otherwise shown).......

0

6

0

Shoeing –Smith.........................................................

 

 

 

Horse-driver...........................................................

 

 

 

Acting Bombardier, Lance-Corporal, Gunner, Sapper, Private, Bandsman, Collarmaker, Saddler, Wheeler. Trumpeter, Bugler, Drummer, Cook, Batman, Stretcher-bearer, Artificer             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Storeman of Head-Quarter’s Machine Gun Coy....................................

0

5

0

Motor Cyclist..........................................................

Railway Unit—.........................................................

 

 

 

Assistant Blacksmith, Assistant Fitter, Fireman, Guard, Signalman, Shunter...............

 

 

 

Regulation 5 is amended by adding thereto the following words:—

“A Sister in Charge of Sea Transport Staff will receive the temporary rank and pay of a Matron.”

Part II.—“Allowances”—in the first paragraph, the words “and Warrant Officers” are deleted.

 

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 of 1918 No. 24, under the Defence Act 1903-1917, were enacted by the Governor-General, R. M. Ferguson, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and signed by the Minister of State for Defence, G. F. Pearce. These regulations were introduced to address the need for standardised financial arrangements for members of the Australian Imperial Force prior to their embarkation, ensuring that remuneration was fair and in line with their ranks and roles. The policy objective is to streamline and formalise the payment structures within the Defence Act to support the operational readiness and morale of the troops during their service.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1918 No. 24, made under the Defence Act 1903–1917, amends the War Financial Regulations to adjust the pay scales for members of the Australian Imperial Force before their embarkation, excluding Nurses and Masseuses. The regulations apply to all ranks of the military, establishing specific pay rates per annum and per diem for each rank. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of these regulations is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, as they are made under federal authority. The regulations also extend to a Sister in Charge of Sea Transport Staff who is granted the temporary rank and pay of a Matron. The regulations do not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions; however, they specifically exclude Nurses and Masseuses from the pay adjustments outlined in the regulations. The application of these regulations may be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments, although the primary focus of this legislative instrument is the amendment of financial regulations for military personnel.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules of 1918 No. 24, under the Defence Act 1903–1917, detail amendments to the War Financial Regulations, which primarily affect the payment and rank of members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Regulation 1, replacing an existing regulation, sets out specific pay rates for various ranks within the AIF, excluding Nurses and Masseuses (Regulation 1). Notably, the rank of Major-General is remunerated at £1,200 per annum and a per diem of £3, 6s, and 8d. Other ranks such as Brigadier-General, Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, and 2nd Lieutenant also have defined annual and per diem payments, with rates decreasing as rank diminishes. Additional ranks like Adjutant, Quartermaster, and various specialized sergeants and corporals also have specified pay rates (Regulation 1). Regulation 5 is amended to state that a Sister in Charge of Sea Transport Staff will receive the temporary rank and pay of a Matron (Regulation 5). These regulations impose clear financial obligations on the Commonwealth to provide specific payments to members of the AIF based on their rank and role. The payments are to be made prior to embarkation and are determined by detailed rank-based schedules. Additionally, the regulation provides a temporary rank and pay adjustment for a Sister in Charge of Sea Transport Staff, ensuring she is compensated appropriately for her duties (Regulation 5). Breaches of these financial regulations could result in civil or criminal consequences, though the specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the provided text. However, given the context of the Defence Act and the importance of financial discipline within military forces, violations could potentially lead to disciplinary action, fines, or other legal repercussions as deemed appropriate by the governing authorities. The maximum penalties for such breaches, if any, are not specified in the provided excerpt.

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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.