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SPECIAL DEFENCE LEGISLATION

1. War Precautions Acts. - On the outbreak of war in Europe, the Federal Parliament passed an Act to enable the Governor-General to make regulations and orders for the safety of the Commonwealth during the state of war. The provisions of this Act, which was assented to on 29th October, 1914, will be found in Official Year Book No. 8, page 1092. Particulars of the Enemy Contracts Annulment Act will be found in the same issue of the Year Book, page 1095.

The War Precautions Act 1918 provided that the War Precautions Act 1914-16 should remain in force only until 31st July, 1919, or for a period of three months after the issue of a proclamation that the state of war has ceased, whichever period is the longer. All regulations made under the Act will lapse with it.

Under the powers conferred by the above Acts, the War Precautions Regulations were made. They provided for the appointment of competent naval or military authorities to exercise certain powers under the regulations, and other matters. The principal provisions of the regulations are given in Official Year Book No. 11, pp.1035-1043.

Under the powers conferred by the above Acts, the War Precautions Regulations were made. They provided for the appointment of competent naval or military authorities to exercise certain powers under the regulations, and other matters. The principal provisions of the regulations are given in Official Year Book No. 11, pp.1035-1043.

The War Precautions Act Repeal Act of 1920 repealed the Act 1914-18, but certain of the regulations are still in force.