Sept. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1679

12. Every member shall, during the period of probation, be deemed to be employed temporarily; and in no case shall he continue to be a member after the expiration of that period unless at such expiration the General Manager, or, in his absence, the Assistant General Manager, certifies that he is suitable and required.

13. Such certificate shall not be given in the case of a cadet unless he—
    (1.) Has passed an examination before a duly-authorised officer of the Postal and Telegraph Department, and obtained from him a certificate that he is qualified as a telegraph operator, and that he has a sufficient knowledge of telegraph connections; and also,
    (2.) Has passed an examination before a duly-authorised postal officer, and obtained from him a certificate that he has a knowledge of postal duties sufficient to fit him for duty at a combined railway, postal, and telegraph station:

Provided that in any case where, on the report of the General Manager made before the expiration of the period of probation, the Minister is satisfied that the cadet has not had reasonable opportunity of qualifying for or passing any such examination, the period of probation may be extended for such time, not exceeding twelve months, as the Minister thinks reasonable.

Duties and Discipline.

14. The duties to be performed by members, and the discipline to be generally observed in the performance of such duties, shall be as specified in the rules, regulations, and instructions of the department; and all members shall be subject thereto.

15. Apprentices shall be indentured to such railway officer as the Minister directs, and the indenture and apprenticeship shall terminate when the apprentice attains twenty-one years of age.

16. An apprentice, on attaining twenty-one years of age, and having served not less than five years’ apprenticeship, may, subject to the departmental certificate, be appointed in the Second Division as follows: To Grade 3, Subclass 2, of Class 2; or to Grade 2, Subclass 3, of Class 2; or to Grade 4, Subclass 3, of Class 3.

17. Any cleaner may be employed from time to time as fireman, and when so employed may be paid as such, provided always that no cleaner shall be so employed until he has attained the age of twenty-one years, nor unless he has served in the department as cleaner for not less than two years, and has passed the prescribed examination for firemen.

18. Any fireman may be employed from time to time as engineman, and when so employed may be paid as such, provided always that no fireman shall be so employed until he has passed the prescribed examination for enginemen.

Promotion.

19. Promotions shall be made from the Second to the First Division in the following manner only:—
    Specially-qualified members may be promoted from Class 1 of Second Division to Subdivision IV. of First Division, as coaching and goods foremen and timber-checkers only;
    Members may be promoted from Class 2, Second Division, to Class 2 of Subdivision IV. and to Class 2 of Subdivision III. of First Division;
    Also from Class 3 of Second Division to Class 3 of Subdivision IV. and to Class 2 of Subdivision III. of First Division.

20. Examinations for promotion shall be made by the persons, at the times, and in the subjects, prescribed from time to time by the General Manager.

21. On the promotion of any member he shall be paid the minimum rate of pay assigned to the subdivision, class, subclass, or grade to which he is promoted, being, however, in no case less than the rate of pay he was receiving at the time of such promotion.

22. Members rated at two rates of pay will receive the annual increment in the higher grade only after having actually worked a full year in the higher grade.

23. No promotion shall take effect until the appointment is confirmed by the Minister.

24. Any member who desires to be passed over in the event of a promotion being offered to him shall, if his request is acceded to, forfeit his right to future promotion: Provided always that, good and sufficient reasons having been given to the satisfaction of the General Manager, he may restore such right to such member.

Vacancies.

25. (1.) Whenever a vacancy occurs, or a new position is to be made, the member who has been standing for the longest period at the nearest inferior rate of pay to that attached to such vacancy or position shall be appointed thereto if the General Manager, or, in his absence, the Assistant General Manager, certifies—
    (a.) That it is necessary in the interests of the department to make the appointment;
    (b.) That the member named is suitable to fill it;
    (c.) That he has passed the prescribed examinations;
    (d.) That he is the member best entitled to the appointment.
    (2.) If such member does not fulfil these conditions, then another member shall be selected in like manner, and so on, until the list is exhausted.

26. In any case where the General Manager reports to the Minister that no member is qualified to fill such vacancy or position, the Minister may appoint thereto any person who possesses the requisite expert or technical knowledge or skill, and the person so appointed shall be deemed to be a member, and be subject to these regulations and the rules and discipline of the department: Provided that the provisions hereinbefore contained relating to probation shall not apply.

Travelling-allowances.

27. In the case of members in the First Division, the travelling-allowance for personal expenses shall be—
    General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Chief Engineer, Locomotive Superintendent, and District Engineers of Grade 1, 15s. per day.
    Members (not otherwise specified) in receipt of £350 per annum and over, 12s. 6d. per day.
    Members (not otherwise specified) in receipt of less than £350 per annum, 10s. per day.
    Relieving-clerks, 10s. per day for the first three days at one place, and 7s. 6d. per day for each additional day at the same place.
    Cadets, actual expenses, supported by vouchers, not exceeding such sum as the General Manager considers reasonable.

28. The foregoing allowances shall be paid only where the member is necessarily absent from his head-quarters at night; but for all journeys where he is not obliged to be absent at night, actual expenses will be paid, to an amount in no case exceeding the full daily rate above authorised for personal expenses, on production of a statement giving details of the nature of the charges, with dates, places, and to whom paid; but receipts for these items need not be produced.

29. In addition to the foregoing allowances for personal expenses the cost of transport by land or sea will be paid by the department, or, when paid by the member travelling, will be recouped to him on production of vouchers; but no vouchers for such expenses will be required for sums of less than 10s., and vouchers for railway-fares will not be required if the railway travelled upon and the extent of the journey are stated. For all days at sea, after the first day, the allowance for personal expenses shall be 2s. 6d. only. For the first day at sea the ordinary allowance may be drawn.

30. To every member in the Second Division (not otherwise specified) absent on duty from his head-quarters at night, night-allowance shall be paid as follows: Where no sleeping-accommodation is provided, 4s. per night; where sleeping-accommodation is provided, 2s. per night.

31. Members of the Maintenance Branch, if provided with sleeping-vans or huts, will not be paid night-allowance.

32. When travelling by sea at the expense of the department, saloon passages will be furnished. Cost of transport by land will be paid by the department whenever such is incurred at the authorised expense of the department.

Other Allowances.

33. The Minister may reward any member of either division for special services performed by granting such allowance in respect to such services as he may deem proper.

34. Members of Second Division who ordinarily work under a leading hand may be temporarily placed in charge of a gang, and whilst so in charge may receive such an allowance as the Minister may direct.

35. Overtime allowances will not be paid to members of First Division.

36. Overtime allowances will be paid to members of Second Division in accordance with departmental regulations now in force or issued from time to time.

Leave of Absence and Sick and Accident Pay.

37. The Minister may, at such times as in his opinion are convenient, grant to members leave of absence on pay as follows:—
    (1.) To each member in the First Division, for each continuous year’s service, a total of two weeks in each calendar year, in addition to the three departmental holidays—Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Queen’s Birthday—or days in lieu of such departmental holidays:
    (2.) To each member in the Second Division, if entitled to overtime, for each continuous year’s service, one week in each calendar year:
    (3.) To each member in the Second Division, if not entitled to overtime, for each continuous year’s service, nine days in each calendar year:
    Provided that any member may allow his annual leave to accumulate for two years.