War Precautions (Consumption of Goods) Regulations 1918 (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1918, No. 229, under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, was enacted to address the need for amendments in the War Precautions (Consumption of Goods) Regulations. This regulation was introduced by Sir Arthur Lyulph Stanley, the Deputy of the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The objective of this legislation was to refine the consumption of goods during wartime by specifying a particular monthly period for assessment, thus enhancing the precision and effectiveness of wartime regulations. This statutory rule was made to come into operation immediately, reflecting the urgency and importance of managing resources during wartime.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1918, No. 229, which amends the War Precautions (Consumption of Goods) Regulations under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, applies to all entities and individuals within the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislative instrument modifies existing regulations to redefine the concept of a "normal" month in the context of the consumption of goods. By inserting the term "monthly" and specifying the exact period from the 24th of one month to the 23rd of the next, the regulation provides a clear and consistent timeframe for monitoring and managing the consumption of goods, which is critical during wartime. This amendment ensures that the measures enacted to conserve resources during the war are applied uniformly across the nation. However, the regulation does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, meaning that all entities within the defined scope are subject to the amended provisions. Any further refinement or extension of the regulation’s application is left to subordinate instruments that may be issued under the authority of the War Precautions Act.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this regulation are found in Regulation 2 of the War Precautions (Consumption of Goods) Regulations (sub-regulation (1) and (4)). These sections amend the existing regulation by inserting the word “monthly” after the word “normal” in sub-regulation (1) and adding a new sub-regulation (4). The new sub-regulation (4) specifies the definition of a month for the purposes of sub-regulation (1), stating that a month is the period from the twenty-fourth day of one calendar month to the twenty-third day of the next succeeding calendar month, inclusive of both days. This amendment imposes specific obligations on parties governed by the War Precautions Act 1914-1916. Under the amended Regulation 2, parties must now adhere to a monthly assessment of goods consumption instead of a normal, unspecified period. This change requires entities subject to these regulations to monitor and report their consumption of goods on a monthly basis, ensuring compliance with the newly defined period. Additionally, sub-regulation (4) clarifies the definition of a month, ensuring consistency in how the consumption periods are calculated and reported. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the regulation itself. However, breaches of regulations made under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916 could potentially lead to enforcement actions under the overarching act, which may include fines or other penalties as prescribed by the act. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant provisions within the War Precautions Act 1914-1916.