STATUTORY RULES.

1919. No. 103.

———

REGULATION UNDER THE WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT 1914–1918.

WHEREAS any serious interference with the supply of coal throughout the Commonwealth is likely to affect prejudicially the return, demobilization and repatriation of members of the Commonwealth Naval and Military Forces, to disorganize industry, and to interfere with the supply of goods and services needed in connexion with the war:

Now therefore I, the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the War Precautions Act 1914–1918, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this first day of May, 1919.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

E. J. RUSSELL,

Acting Minister of State for Defence.

Amendment of the War Precautions (Coal) Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1917, No. 195, as amended by Statutory Rules 1917, Nos. 240 and 252.)

After regulation 10 of the War Precautions (Coal) Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Power to requisition coal.

“10a. (1) The Prime Minister may, if in his opinion the supply of coal is endangered or likely to be endangered, by order authorize the acquisition of coal on behalf of the Commonwealth.

“(2) Any such order may relate to any or all of the following:—

(a) coal stacked in any part of Australia; and

(b) coal won from time to time or within any specified period or periods from any particular coal mine, or from some or all of the coal mines in any particular district or part of Australia, or from all of the coal mines in Australia.

“(3) Notice of the making of any order may be given to the owner of the stack or mine to which it relates, either—

(a) by the publication of a copy of the order in the Gazette; or

(b) by the service of a copy of the order upon the owner or person in charge of the stack or mine.

“(4) Upon notice of the making of the order being given, the owner of the stack or mine shall comply as soon as reasonably practicable, or from time to time, as the case may be, with all directions given by any person (in this regulation referred to as ‘an authorized person’) thereto authorized in writing, for the purposes of the order, by the Prime Minister or by the Controller of Shipping appointed under the War Precautions (Shipping) Regulations 1918.

“(5) The method of acquisition shall be as specified in any directions given by an authorized person to the owner of the stack or mine.

“(6) The Prime Minister or the Controller of Shipping may appoint such agents as he thinks fit to sell or distribute coal acquired by the Commonwealth under this regulation.

“(7) Each agent so appointed shall keep such books of account as the Prime Minister or the Controller of Shipping directs.

“(8) The Prime Minister may, if he thinks fit, give directions as to the rates of wages and conditions of employment of persons employed in the production of coal acquired or to be acquired by the Commonwealth under this regulation.

“(9) The compensation payable to any person from whom coal has been acquired and the remuneration to any agent appointed for the purposes of this regulation shall be determined in such manner and upon such basis as the Prime Minister directs.

“(10) The selling price of coal acquired by the Commonwealth shall be such price as is fixed by the Prime Minister. The price may vary in different parts of the Commonwealth, and as regards different qualities of coal.

“(11) Any person who fails to comply with any direction given under or for the purposes of this regulation, or who obstructs an agent, an authorized person, or any other person in the carrying out of this regulation or in the acquisition or sale of coal by the Commonwealth, shall be guilty of an offence.

“(12) The Prime Minister may, by order in writing, cancel or suspend any contract or agreement for the supply of coal.

“(13) Notice of the cancellation or suspension may be given—

(a) by the publication of a copy of the order in the Gazette; or

(b) by the service of a copy of the order upon each party to the contract or agreement.”.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.