STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 228.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT 1914-1916.
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 War Precautions Act 1914-1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this thirteenth day of September, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
Amendment of the War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1916, No. 150, as amended by Statutory Rules 1917, No. 77.)
The War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations are amended by adding at the end thereof the following regulations:—
Price of glycerine.
“6. Except with the approval of the Minister for Defence or an officer thereto authorized in writing by the Minister, no producer of glycerine shall sell or dispose of, to any person in Australia, and no person in Australia shall purchase or receive, semi-refined or refined glycerine at prices lower than Two hundred pounds per ton net delivered plus the cost of packages and containing vessels.
Disposal of amounts derived from sale of glycerine.
“7. Of any amount received by any producer of glycerine for the sale or disposal of glycerine to any person in Australia, the producer shall be entitled to retain for his own benefit such sum as represents the average price received by him during the six months preceding the commencement of this regulation, and shall, unless the Minister or an officer thereto authorized in writing by the Minister otherwise directs, hold the remainder in trust for payment to such persons in such amounts as the Minister or officer may from time to time specify, and shall when required by the Minister or such officer make such payments to such persons accordingly.
Records to be kept.
“8. Each producer of glycerine shall for the purposes of these regulations keep a record of all glycerine produced and disposed of by him, and of the prices received therefor.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.12370.—Price 3d.
Overview
The War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations 1917 were enacted under the authority of the War Precautions Act 1914-1916 by the Governor-General in Council, responding to the urgent need to regulate the price and distribution of glycerine during the First World War. This legislative instrument aimed to ensure that glycerine, a critical component in the manufacture of explosives, remained available and affordable for military use, addressing the wartime gap in supply control mechanisms. The policy objective of these regulations was to maintain stable prices for glycerine and to prevent its underselling, which could have compromised the war effort. The Regulations provided a mechanism for producers to retain a fair portion of their earnings while the surplus was held in trust for potential redistribution as determined by the Minister for Defence or his authorised officers.
Scope and Application
The War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations, established under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, specifically target producers and purchasers of glycerine within Australia. These regulations mandate that glycerine cannot be sold or purchased at prices lower than Two hundred pounds per ton net delivered, with the additional costs of packaging and vessels, unless explicitly approved by the Minister for Defence or an authorised officer. Producers are also required to maintain records of all glycerine produced and sold, along with the prices received. Furthermore, any revenue generated from glycerine sales must be managed in a manner prescribed by the Minister or an authorised officer, with a portion retained by the producer and the remainder held in trust for specified payments. These regulations are binding on all entities and individuals involved in the production and sale of glycerine across Australia, with no exclusions specified within the text. The regulations extend the reach of the Act by introducing detailed controls over the pricing and disposal of glycerine, thereby ensuring stability and oversight in this sector during wartime.
Key Provisions
The Regulations under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, specifically addressing glycerine, introduce three main provisions. Firstly, Section 6 stipulates that glycerine producers must not sell or dispose of glycerine at prices lower than Two hundred pounds per ton net delivered plus the cost of packages and vessels, unless approved by the Minister for Defence or an authorised officer. Secondly, Section 7 mandates that glycerine producers must retain a sum equivalent to their average price over the preceding six months and hold the remainder in trust for payment to specified persons as directed by the Minister or authorised officer. Finally, Section 8 requires each glycerine producer to maintain records of all glycerine produced and disposed of, along with the prices received.
These regulations impose several obligations on glycerine producers. Firstly, they must ensure that any sale of glycerine within Australia adheres to the specified price, unless expressly permitted by the Minister or an authorised officer. Secondly, they must manage the financial proceeds from glycerine sales by retaining a specific sum and holding the remainder in trust for future payments as directed. Thirdly, meticulous record-keeping is mandated, with producers required to document all production and disposal activities, along with associated prices.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in significant consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the regulations themselves, breach of regulations under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916 could potentially lead to civil or criminal penalties, as established by the overarching Act. The maximum penalties could include fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent behind the breach, as outlined in the principal Act.