June 29.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 975

16. It shall be the duty of the Superintending Overseer, and of the overseers of the general, clerical, and mechanical divisions respectively, to furnish a report half-yearly, through the Govern- ment Printer, to the Minister in charge of the department, showing the efficiency, diligence, regu- larity of attendance, and punctuality of each officer under his control. And it shall also be the duty of the overseer in charge of the time workers on the temporary staff to report annually, in like manner, on the character and ability of at least three of the above staff who are, in his opinion, the best qualified for and most deserving of promotion to the per- manent staff.

17. It shall be the duty of the Government Printer half-yearly to furnish the Minister in charge of the department with a report on each of the overseers of the general, clerical, and mechanical divisions, showing their efficiency, promptness in producing work (especially at session-time), care as against extravagance, and quoting instances of delay, neglect, &c.

18. Vacancies in the respective divisions shall, where practicable, be filled by promotion from the division next below that in which the vacancy occurs. In selecting a person to fill such vacancy, fitness and merit shall be the first consideration, and seniority shall be the next consideration; but in cases of equal or nearly equal merit the senior officer shall take precedence. Promotion to the permanent staff shall be made from the ranks of the time workers on the temporary staff.

19. In order to give effect as fully as possible to the foregoing rule, the question of promotion shall be decided by the Government Printer on the half- yearly reports of the overseer of the department in which the vacancy occurs. In the event of any member of the division in which a vacancy occurs feeling aggrieved at the manner in which the vacancy has been filled, he may appeal to the Minister in charge of the department, in whose hands shall rest the definite decision on the ques- tion. In the event of a vacancy in the reading staff, such vacancy shall be filled by the Govern- ment Printer on the recommendation of the per- manent readers.

20. Should any member of the permanent staff be guilty of negligence or insubordination, it shall be the duty of his overseer to admonish him; but, should such negligence or insubordination be re- peated, it shall be the duty of the overseer (through the Superintending Overseer) to report the matter to the Government Printer, who may disrate or, in extreme cases, dismiss the offender. Any mem- ber of the permanent staff who shall have been reported by the Superintending Overseer to the Government Printer for negligence, insubordina- tion, or other misconduct shall not receive for the following year the accrued increase of salary to which he would otherwise have been entitled under Rule 14.

21. In all cases of disrating merely, the disrated employé shall take lowest rank in the class or grade to which reduced; but upon subsequent good con- duct, extending over a period of twelve months, shall be eligible for promotion in turn.

Confidential Work.

22. To insure due secrecy, Ministerial statements and memoranda, Customs-tariff alterations, policy measures, and all work of a strictly confidential character shall, where practicable, be intrusted only to members of the permanent staff. Should the extent or urgency of the work, however, require a wider distribution, it shall be the duty of the over- seers to confine it to as few hands as possible.

B

23. Any employé who may reasonably be sus- pected of divulging information of a confidential nature shall be suspended, and should proof be forthcoming he shall be at once dismissed by the Government Printer.

Permanent Staff.

24. The permanent staff shall comprise all em- ployés whose names shall appear in a register to be called “ The Staff Register,” which shall contain a record of date of appointment, age, absences, gra- tuities, and any other matters that may be deemed necessary.

Temporary Staff.

25. The temporary staff of compositors shall com- prise all those not included in the permanent staff, and may be employed either on piece or time work. Men for time-work shall be selected, on the recommendation of the overseer in charge, on the ground of general proficiency.

26. Temporary hands of less than three months’ standing will be under engagement by the day, ter- minable without notice on either side; all others shall be subject to one week’s notice on either side. Temporary hands will have no claim for payment for holidays that may occur during the time they are employed, unless engaged in the office for two consecutive months immediately preceding such holiday.

27. The rates of remuneration for temporary com- positors shall be those set forth in Schedule B hereto, which, however, may be altered from time to time as may be deemed expedient.

Apprentices.

28. Applicants for employment as apprentices must not be under fourteen years of age, and must be of sound bodily health and of good character, and shall have passed an examination equal to that of the Fourth Standard under the Education Act.

29. The period of apprenticeship shall be six years, and the rates of wages shall be as follow:—
    Per Week.
    £ s. d.
    First year ... 0 8 0
    Second year ... 0 10 0
    Third year ... 0 12 6
    Fourth year ... 0 16 0
    Fifth year ... 1 0 0
    Sixth year ... 1 5 0

30. Apprentices will be placed in the branches for which they seem best adapted. Those selected for the composing branch shall pass at least one year in the reading-room prior to being transferred to the composing-room; but in no case shall more than one year passed in the reading-room be reckoned as part of the period of apprenticeship.

31. Apprentices in all branches who shall have served their full term satisfactorily shall be en- titled to one year’s employment at the rate of pay of temporary employés, and shall thereafter form part of the temporary staff, and be entitled to the privileges of temporary hands of two years’ stand- ing.

32. In the case of apprentices, machine-boys, assistants, and female employés two weeks’ leave of absence on full pay will be granted annually to a number not exceeding ten of the males and females respectively, these to be selected in accordance with the half-yearly reports furnished by the over- seer in charge.

Female Sewers and Folders.

33. Candidates for employment must not be under fourteen years of age, and must be in sound bodily health and of good character.