STATUTORY RULES.

1916. No. 316.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910–1912.

Regulations for the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth.

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 Naval Defence Act 1910–1912, to come into operation on and from the 1st day of July, 1916.

Dated this twentieth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and sixteen.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

J. A. JENSEN,

Minister of State for the Navy.

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REGULATIONS FOR THE NAVAL FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.—PART II.—PERMANENT NAVAL FORCES.

Additions.

Section 1.—Entries, Commissions, and Promotions of Officers, and Section II.—Entry of Seamen, Stokers, and Boys.

Add new Regulations—

30. The Commonwealth Naval Radio Stations on shore shall be manned by officers and petty officers belonging to the Royal Australian Naval Radio Service.

The complement of. the shore stations shall be as laid down by the Naval Board from time to time, and the numbers of the various ranks and ratings shall be in accordance with the establishment provided in the Estimates.

31. The following ranks and ratings in the Royal Australian Naval Radio Service are established:—

Radio Commander.

Radio Lieutenant Commander.

Radio Lieutenant.

Commissioned Telegraphist.

Warrant Telegraphist.

Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist.

Petty Officer Telegraphist.

32. The appointment of each officer or petty officer to the Radio Service will be subject to his satisfactorily passing the prescribed examination.

33. The seniority of officers and petty officers on appointment to the Radio Service will be fixed by the Naval Board.

34. Members of the Radio Service will not belong to the military branch of the Naval Service, and will exercise no military authority in relation to the other branches of the Permanent Naval Forces. Their rank and command will be governed by the conditions laid down in Articles 216 and 218, clause 2, King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

35. Chief petty officers and petty officers will be required to sign an engagement to serve for a period of three years, and if desirous of continuing in the Service may, at the end of that period, and subject to the Naval Board’s approval, renew their engagement for successive terms.

In ordinary circumstances no rating will be allowed to take his discharge until the expiration of the period for which he is engaged. In special circumstances the Naval Board may approve of discharge at other times.

36. Except in special circumstances the Radio Service shall consist of men who have served in the Permanent Naval Forces (Sea-going) for at least seven years man’s time, but in special circumstances the Naval Board may appoint other persons to the Radio Service.

37. Before appointment to the Radio Service a candidate must have a satisfactory record for character and ability in the Permanent Naval Forces, be recommended by his Commanding Officer, and have passed for the rating of petty officer telegraphist.

38. Before promotion to the several higher ranks in the Radio Service an officer or petty officer must pass the prescribed examination for the rank. Promotion shall be by seniority provided the candidate is fully qualified and recommended for the higher rank and accepts the appointment in which the vacancy occurs.

39. Members of the Radio Service shall be liable to serve in any place to which they may be appointed, and shall, on removal from one station to another, be paid the allowance prescribed in the Financial and Allowance Regulations.

40. Officers and chief petty officers of the Radio Service who were permanently employed under the provisions of the Public Service Act and attached to the Postmaster-General’s Department, and who accepted engagement in the Royal Australian Naval Radio Service, shall have their rights to continuous employment preserved subject to good conduct and efficiency.

41. In all matters not specially provided for, members of the Radio Service shall be subject to the same regulations as the Administrative and Instructional Staff.

Section V.—Interior Economy.

Leave of Absence.

Regulation 70—

Add the following:—

(d) In exceptional cases additional leave may be granted, subject to the approval of the Naval Board, to cover the period occupied in travelling.

Section VI.—Uniforms.

Add new Regulation 81a—

81a. Officers and petty officers of the Radio Service are required to wear the prescribed uniform of their rank or rating, which is to be the same as that of the Engineer Branch of the Royal Australian Navy with the following exceptions:—

(a) Officers will not wear the executive curl on sleeve or on shoulder straps.

(b) Cap badges will have the “telegraphist badge” (embroidered wings) instead of the anchor.

(c) Chief petty officers and petty officers will not wear the telegraphist badge on collars or sleeve. Petty officers will wear class 3 rig.

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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.15002.—Price 3d.