STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 324.
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REGULATION 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 eleventh day of December, 1917.
R. M. FERGUSON.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. A. WATT,
For Minister of State for Defence.
Amendment of the War Precautions (Military Service Referendum) Regulations 1917.
(Statutory Rules 1917, No. 290, as amended by Statutory Rules 1917, Nos. 304, 306, 308, 314, 315, 316, 319 and 323.)
After Regulation 45 of the War Precautions (Military Service Referendum) Regulations 1917, the following Regulation is inserted:—
Proclamation be exhibited on cinematograph screens.
“46.—(1.) The Prime Minister, or any person authorized by him in that behalf, may supply or cause to be supplied to the owner, occupier, or manager of any theatre or other premises used for the purpose of cinematograph exhibitions, or to any person who uses any premises for that purpose, lantern slides containing copies of any proclamation relating to the Military Service Referendum 1917, or of any matter relating to such proclamation, and may direct the person to whom such lantern slides are so supplied to exhibit the proclamation or matter on the cinematograph screen in such manner and on such occasions as the Prime Minister or the person so authorized by him thinks fit.
“(2.) Any person who fails or refuses to carry out any direction given to him in pursuance of this Regulation shall be guilty of an offence.”.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.16733.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1917, No. 324, issued under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, were enacted to address the need for efficient communication and dissemination of important information to the public during times of war. These regulations were made by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, aiming to ensure that crucial wartime messages could be rapidly and widely shared. The policy objective was to maintain public awareness and support for wartime efforts, specifically in relation to the Military Service Referendum 1917. This regulation allows the Prime Minister, or an authorised person, to provide cinematograph screen owners with lantern slides containing relevant proclamations or information, mandating their exhibition and imposing penalties for non-compliance.
The regulations represent an adaptation of the existing War Precautions (Military Service Referendum) Regulations 1917, enhancing the means by which vital wartime information could reach the populace through public exhibition spaces. By inserting a new regulation, the government sought to ensure that the Military Service Referendum 1917 was effectively communicated to the Australian public, thereby fostering unity and understanding during a critical period of national importance.
Scope and Application
The Regulations made under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916, specifically detailed in Statutory Rules 1917, No. 324, pertain to the exhibition of lantern slides containing copies of proclamations related to the Military Service Referendum 1917 in cinemas and other venues used for cinematograph exhibitions. These Regulations apply to any individual or entity that owns, occupies, or manages such premises, as well as any person who utilises these premises for the purpose of showing cinematograph exhibitions. The geographic reach of these Regulations is nationwide, as they are enacted under the Commonwealth's authority. Any failure or refusal to comply with the directions issued by the Prime Minister or an authorised individual to exhibit the prescribed proclamations on cinematograph screens is classified as an offence, with potential legal consequences for the non-compliant parties. This amendment to the War Precautions (Military Service Referendum) Regulations 1917 extends the application of the Act through subordinate instruments, ensuring that the mandated information reaches the public effectively during the wartime context.
Key Provisions
The main operative section of these Regulations, Regulation 46, authorises the Prime Minister or an authorised person to provide lantern slides containing copies of any proclamation or related matters concerning the Military Service Referendum 1917 to the owners, occupiers, managers, or users of any premises used for cinematograph exhibitions. This provision mandates the exhibition of these proclamations on cinematograph screens, with the discretion given to the Prime Minister or the authorised person regarding the manner and timing of such exhibitions (Regulation 46(1)). The regulation underscores the government's intention to disseminate important information widely and efficiently during the period of the referendum.
Under these Regulations, the obligation falls upon the owners, occupiers, managers, or users of cinemas and other exhibition venues to comply with the directives issued by the Prime Minister or an authorised delegate. Specifically, they are required to exhibit the supplied lantern slides on their screens, ensuring the dissemination of the proclaimed information reaches the public effectively (Regulation 46(1)). Failure or refusal to comply with these directives constitutes an offence under the Regulations.
The Regulations also establish consequences for non-compliance. Any person who fails or refuses to carry out a direction given under Regulation 46(1) is considered to have committed an offence. Although the specific penalties for such an offence are not detailed in the provided excerpt, it is clear that the law imposes a legal obligation to comply with these directives and provides for penal consequences for those who do not adhere to the prescribed requirements.