NATIONALITY
BRITISH SUBJECT FOR PURPOSES OF ELECTORAL ENROLMENT: WHETHER PERSON BORN IN HOLLAND WHO SERVED WITH ENEMY IN BOER WAR IS NOW BRITISH SUBJECT THROUGH ANNEXATION
COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918, s. 39
The Chief Electoral Officer asks whether Mr A.B. should obtain naturalization in the Commonwealth in order to qualify for enrolment as an elector under the following circumstances:
B. was born in Holland, went to South Africa before attaining his majority, and served with the Boer forces during the South African War 1899-1901. His parents never became British subjects. He has never become a naturalized British subject. He was 'annexed' when South Africa became British territory.
REPATRIATION
GRANT TO RETURNED SOLDIERS OR THEIR WIDOWS OF ORDERS FOR THE SUPPLY OF ARTICLES: WHETHER TRANSACTIONS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH PUBLIC TENDERING PROCEDURE
AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS' REPATRIATION REGULATIONS 1919. reg. 74: TREASURY REGULATIONS 1919. regs 67. 68
The Secretary of the Audit Office has forwarded the following memorandum asking for advice:
Enclosed herewith is correspondence which has taken place with respect to the following:
PARLIAMENT
UNCLAIMED PARLIAMENTARY ALLOWANCE: WHEN ALLOWANCE BECOMES DUE: REVERSION OF UNCLAIMED MONEYS TO TREASURY
PARLIAMENTARY ALLOWANCES ACT 1920, s. 9
The Clerk of the House of Representatives has forwarded the following memorandum dated 25 August 1920 asking for advice:
A Member has this day signed an order for the payment into a banking account of his Parliamentary allowance at the increased rate from 22 May last.
Will you be so good as to inform me whether the increased amount can be paid for 22, 23, and 24 May, in view of the provisions of section 9 of Act No. 12 of 1920?
FREEDOM OF INTERSTATE TRADE
WHETHER COMMONWEALTH HAS POWER TO PROVIDE FOR COMPULSORY GRADING OF BUTTER FOR INTERSTATE TRANSFER: EXTENT OF POWER TO REGULATE INTERSTATE TRANSFER AND EXPORT OF GOODS
CUSTOMS ACT 1901, ss. 112, 112A
Referring to the verbal request by Mr A. of your office for a draft proclamation relative to the compulsory grading of interstate butter, I desire to point out that it is, in my opinion, extremely doubtful whether power exists to provide for the grading of butter for interstate transfer.
POSTAL SERVICES
VALIDITY OF REGULATION PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION WHERE DAMAGE IS CAUSED BY ONE POSTAL ARTICLE TO ANOTHER: POWER TO MAKE REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PARCELS MAYBE HANDLED
POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901, s. 97: POST AND TELEGRAPH REGULATIONS, reg. 220A(l)
The Secretary to the Postmaster-General's Department has forwarded a file of papers relating to damage caused to a postal article by leakage from a parcel of eggs sent by post, the contents of which had become broken, and has requested advice as to the validity of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 220A of the Post and Telegraph Regulations.
FEDERAL SHIPBUILDING TRIBUNAL
POWERS OF SHIPBUILDING TRIBUNAL TO DETERMINE WAGE RATES IN SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY: DAY WORK AND PIECEWORK: POWER OF COMMONWEALTH TO CHALLENGE TRIBUNAL'S DECISIONS
The Secretary to the Prime Minister's Department has forwarded, for advice, the following memorandum:
The question has been raised as to whether the Federal Shipbuilding Tribunal has exceeded its powers in dealing with applications for increases in the rates of pay for day work, which function, it has been urged, is outside the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.
For your information, I enclose a copy of the form of agreement entered into between employer and employee, together with a copy of the printed statement referred to in clause (2) thereof.
ELECTORAL ENROLMENT
MEMBERS OF WARSHIP CREWS: WHETHER MEMBER WITH NO PLACE OF LIVING ASHORE CAN BE ENROLLED FOR DIVISION IN WHICH HIS HOME PORT IS SITUATED
COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918, s. 41
The following memorandum has been submitted to me for advice:
ARTILLERY SALUTES
CONFLICT BETWEEN COMMONWEALTH REGULATIONS AND IMPERIAL REGULATIONS AS TO ENTITLEMENT OF STATE GOVERNORS TO ARTILLERY SALUTES
CONSTITUTION: AUSTRALIAN MILITARY REGULATIONS, reg. 228: COLONIAL OFFICE REGULATIONS (IMP.), regs 1. 146
The Secretary, Department of Defence, has forwarded for opinion the following questions:
His Excellency the Governor-General communicated, on 4 March 1920, with the Governors of the several States in these terms:
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that in view of the possible ill effects on shell-shocked soldiers no salute was fired in Melbourne on the occasion of the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament last week.
OLD-AGE PENSION
WHETHER CERTAIN ALLOWANCE RECEIVED BY CLAIMANT FOR PENSION CONSTITUTES 'INCOME': PAYMENTS IN NATURE OF GRATUITIES DISTINGUISHED FROM BENEFITS PAID BY VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION
INVALID AND OLD-AGE PENSIONS ACT 1908, s. 4
The Acting Assistant Commissioner for Pensions has asked for advice as to whether the allowance received by a claimant for pension from the Australasian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists should be regarded as 'income' within the meaning of section 4 of the Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1908-1919 under the following circumstances:
REPRESENTATION OF TERRITORIES
WHETHER RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN TERRITORY CAN BE ATTACHED TO STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA FOR PURPOSE OF REPRESENTATION IN SENATE
CONSTITUTION, ss. 7, 122
The Secretary, Department of Home and Territories:
The Senate has carried an amendment to the motion for the second reading of the Northern Territory Representation Bill, as follows:
That the Senate is of opinion that residents of the Northern Territory who would under ordinary circumstances be entitled to a vote under the Commonwealth Electoral laws, should for that purpose be attached to the State of South Australia and accorded the right to vote at the election for senators of that State, thus being granted representation in the Commonwealth Parliament.