STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 77.
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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 as from the 19th day of July, 1916.
Dated this twenty-eighth day of March, 1917.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
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War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations 1916.
(Statutory Rules 1916, No. 150.)
Power to requisition glycerine.
1. Regulation 2 of the War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations is repealed and the following regulation is inserted in its stead:—
“2. The Minister for Defence, or an officer thereto authorized in writing under the hand of the Minister, may by order require—
(a) the owner or occupier of any factory in which glycerine is produced; or
(b) any person, firm or company who or which holds stocks of glycerine in excess of his or its requirements for one month,
to produce and to place at the disposal of the Minister, such quantities and qualities of glycerine as are specified in the order.”
2. Regulation 3 of the War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations is amended by inserting, after the word “quality,” the words “i.e., containing over 97 per centum of glycerol, suitable for the manufacture of nitro-glycerine.”
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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.3972.—Price 3d.
Overview
The War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations 1916, made under the authority of the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, were introduced to address the urgent need for glycerine during the First World War. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, these regulations aimed to ensure the availability of glycerine, a critical component in the production of explosives such as nitro-glycerine, for the war effort. The regulations granted the Minister for Defence, or an authorised officer, the power to requisition glycerine from producers and holders, ensuring that surplus stocks were made available to meet national defence requirements. This legislative instrument reflects the urgent policy objective of supporting Australia's war efforts by securing essential materials for munitions production.
Scope and Application
The War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations 1916, made under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, apply to any entity or individual involved in the production or holding of glycerine within the Commonwealth of Australia. Specifically, these regulations target owners or occupiers of glycerine production facilities, as well as any person, firm, or company holding stocks of glycerine beyond their monthly requirements. The regulations allow the Minister for Defence, or an authorized officer, to requisition specific quantities and qualities of glycerine, particularly those with over 97 percent glycerol content suitable for nitro-glycerine manufacture. These regulations extend across the entire Commonwealth, thereby having a national reach. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the regulations themselves, although the overarching War Precautions Act may contain provisions that could influence the application of these specific regulations. The scope and detail of the requisitioning process can be further refined through subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Act.
Key Provisions
The War Precautions (Glycerine) Regulations 1916, introduced under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, include several significant provisions (Reg. 1 and 2). Regulation 2, in particular, mandates that the Minister for Defence, or an authorised officer, can require the owner or occupier of any glycerine-producing factory, or any person, firm, or company holding excess glycerine stocks, to produce and provide specified quantities and qualities of glycerine to the Minister (Reg. 2(a) and (b)). The regulation further specifies that the glycerine must contain over 97 per centum of glycerol, making it suitable for the manufacture of nitro-glycerine (Reg. 3).
These regulations impose certain obligations on the parties they govern. Owners or occupiers of glycerine-producing factories and entities holding excess glycerine stocks must comply with requisition orders from the Minister for Defence or an authorised officer. They are required to produce and make available the specified quantities and qualities of glycerine as directed (Reg. 2). This ensures that the necessary resources are available for national defence purposes during the wartime period.
Failure to comply with the requisition orders can result in legal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions under the War Precautions Act. Such actions may include civil or criminal penalties, as typically provided under wartime legislation aimed at ensuring compliance with national security measures. The exact penalties would depend on further provisions within the overarching Act and any additional regulations or statutes that may apply.