STATUTORY RULES.

1922. No. 119.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.

I, THE DEPUTY OF 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 Defence Act 1903-1918, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this thirty-first day of August, 1922.

W. H. IRVINE,

Deputy of the Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. MASSY GREENE,

Minister of State for Defence.

MUNITIONS SUPPLY REGULATIONS, 1922.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Munitions Supply Regulations 1922.

2. Regulations 12a, 1312, 1313, 1314, 1315, 1316, 1317, 1318 and 1319 of the Australian Military Regulations, now in force, are hereby repealed, save as to any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred thereunder.

3. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“The Act” means the Defence Act 1903-18, and includes all amendments thereof.

“Minister” means the “Minister” of State for Defence.

“Board” means the Munitions Supply Board.

Munitions Supply Board.

4. (1) There shall be a Munitions Supply Board which shall have, hold, exercise and perform, subject to the control of the Minister, such powers, functions and duties affecting the provision of the munitions and other supplies of the Defence Force as may be vested in or conferred upon it by regulations or assigned to it by the Minister.

(2) The Board shall form part of the Civil Branch of the Department of Defence.

(3) In addition to any other powers or functions conferred upon it as aforesaid the Board shall be charged with the following matters:—

(a) Provision of such armament, arms, ammunition, equipment, supplies and stores of all kinds as may be demanded by the responsible authorities and approved by the Minister.

(b) Research and design.

(c) Inspection and examination of supplies obtained in Australia other than food, forage and fuel supplies, up to the point of issue to the service.

(d) Administration of manufacturing establishments established or to be established under section 63 of the Act and placed under the control of the Minister of State for Defence.

(4) The Board shall maintain close liaison with the Boards charged with the command and administration of the Naval, Military and Air Forces.

5. (1) The Board shall consist of the Controller-General of Munitions Supply and two Controllers, who shall be officers of the Department, to be appointed by the Minister.

(2) The Controller-General of Munitions Supply shall be Chairman of the Board, and shall be specially responsible for the direction of armament section factories, design, research and inspection.

(3) The Minister may appoint consultative members of the Board.

(4) There will be a Secretary to the Board, who will exercise such functions and perform such duties as the Board may direct.

6. The Board shall determine its rules and order of procedure, provided, however, that—

(1) Meetings of the Board shall be summoned by the Minister or by the Chairman or in the absence of the Chairman by the Deputy Chairman.

(2) The Chairman or in his absence the Deputy Chairman shall preside.

(3) The Deputy Chairman shall be nominated by the Chairman.

(4) Two members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

(5) Questions shall be decided by a majority of votes; provided that should there be equality of voting upon any question when less than three members are present the matter shall be postponed until the next meeting.

7. (1) The Board may, by writing under the hand of each member of the Board, delegate to any member of the Board any of the powers of the Board so that the delegated powers may be exercised by the delegate with respect to the matters or class of matters specified or defined in the Instrument of Delegation.

(2) Every such delegation shall be revocable at will, and no delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power by the Board.

Contract Board.

8. There shall be a Contract Board, which shall exercise its powers and functions subject to the control of the Munitions Supply Board.

9. The Contract Board shall be constituted as follows:—

(1) The Chairman and members of the Munitions Supply Board shall be ex officio members of the Contract Board.

(2) Members approved by the Minister as follows:—

(a) An officer nominated by the Munitions Supply Board, who shall be Chairman of the Contract Board;

(b) an officer nominated by the Naval Board;

(c) an officer nominated by the Military Board;

(d) an officer nominated by the Air Board;

(e) an officer nominated by the Secretary, Department of Defence, who shall be Executive Member and Secretary of the Contract Board.

(3) In the absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman shall be the senior member of the Contract Board present, provided that the Secretary shall not be eligible to act as Deputy Chairman.

10. Meetings of the Contract Board shall be convened by the Chairman, or, in his absence, by the Secretary to the Contract Board. Three members shall constitute a quorum. Questions shall be decided by a majority of votes, and in the event of an equality of voting the presiding member shall have a casting vote.

11. The functions of the Contract Board shall be—

(a) On receipt of a contract demand duly approved by proper authority, which approval the submitting officer shall be responsible for obtaining, to arrange for the purchase of the supplies enumerated therein by inviting public tenders, or by quotation or otherwise.

(b) Subject to the approval of the Munitions Supply Board to direct District Contract Boards as to the manner and extent in and to which supplies may be obtained and services arranged within the limits of their respective States.

Provided, however, that no tender or quotation shall be accepted nor purchase made by the Contract Board, the amount of which exceeds £2,500, without reference to the Minister through the Munitions Supply Board.

12. The Chairman of the Contract Board, or in his absence the Deputy Chairman, shall, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, enter into contracts approved by the Minister or the Contract Board.

13. Questions connected with the acceptance of tenders or purchase of stores which affect the policy of the Government for the time being are to be referred to the Minister through the Munitions Supply Board.

14. (1) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Munitions Supply Board, appoint in each State a District Contract Board, consisting of not less than three members, one of whom shall be Chairman and another Deputy Chairman.

(2) The District Contract Board for any State or the Chairman thereof, or in his absence the Deputy Chairman thereof, may, on being authorized in writing so to do by the Contract Board, exercise in such State any of the powers and functions of the Contract Board or the Chairman thereof.

(3) Every authority under this regulation shall be revocable at will, and shall not prevent the exercise by the Contract Board, or the Chairman or Deputy Chairman thereof, of any power or function under this regulation.

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