SEPT. 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1671

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

38. 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.

39. 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 entitled to overtime, for each continuous year’s service, one week in each calendar year:

(3.) To each member in the Second Division 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:

Provided also that the Minister may grant to any member for special services, or under special circumstances, such additional leave as he may deem proper.

40. Subject to the production of a satisfactory certificate from a medical practitioner, or a copy of such certificate attested by an officer of a friendly society, any member in the First Division shall be entitled to full pay when absent from duty owing to illness for any period up to four weeks of such absence. No further payment shall be made without the authority of the Minister.

41. Subject to the production of such certificate or attested copy as aforesaid, every member in the Second Division whilst absent from duty through accident sustained in the execution of his duty may receive full pay for the first three months, and after that such allowance as the Minister may deem proper under the circumstances.

42. Accident pay will in every case cease at any time should the departmental medical officer so advise.

Passes.

43. Every member granted leave of absence may receive once in each year a station-to-station first-class free pass, available for the period of leave, in favour of himself and his family (meaning thereby his wife or housekeeper and his children who are residing with him, and, if male, are not more than eighteen years old, or, if female, are unmarried): Provided that in lieu of such free pass each such person may receive, once in each year, a single-journey first-class free pass from one station to another and return.

44. Where members are stationed at isolated places first-class free passes will be granted to them and their wives or housekeepers to the nearest station at which stores can be purchased.

45. With the previous authority of the District Manager, any member, whilst living by direction at an isolated place along the line, may have his own household stores carried free by train from a station to be specified by the District Manager.

Privilege Tickets.

46. On presentation of an order signed by the proper authority, a member may receive a privilege season-ticket, and privilege ordinary tickets not exceeding thirteen in any one financial year, entitling him to travel between specified stations at one-fourth of the ordinary rates.

47. The wife or housekeeper of such member may in like manner receive privilege ordinary tickets, not exceeding thirteen in any one financial year, entitling her to travel between specified stations at one-fourth of the ordinary rates.

48. The provisions of clause 46 shall apply in the case of a person (other than a member) in the temporary employment of the department, and the provisions of clause 47 shall apply in the case of his wife or housekeeper, provided that in every case he has been so employed continuously for not less than three months; but those provisions shall cease to apply forthwith upon his ceasing to be employed by the department.

House-accommodation.

49. Where houses are provided by the department which, in the opinion of the General Manager, are suitable for the occupation of members, it will be a condition of employment that members reside in such houses.

50. Except as otherwise provided, members will be charged rental as assessed by the General Manager.

51. Where dwellings which in the opinion of the General Manager are suitable are supplied in lieu of lodging-allowance, or are used as camping-places, no rental will be charged.

Reduction of Staff.

52. Whenever the Minister decides that it is necessary to reduce the staff he may order that the services of a given number of members shall be dispensed with, and may make such equitable staff arrangements to give effect to this as he may deem proper.

53. The name, status, and New Zealand address of members so dispensed with shall be registered, and each such member shall, in order of seniority of service, have the offer of re-employment in any position in the service for which he is qualified sent to him at the registered address before any other candidate is admitted into the service.

54. Members so reappointed shall be credited with the period of former service.

Complaints.

55. All charges against members must be made in writing, signed by the complainant, and where the complainant is a member he shall make the complaint to his immediate superior officer within seven days after the subject-matter thereof came to his knowledge.

56. The officer to whom any formal complaint is made shall forthwith forward the same to the General Manager through the proper departmental channels, and the General Manager shall investigate and dispose of the same in such manner as he deems equitable.

57. If in the opinion of the General Manager any charge is of so serious a nature as to require a formal inquiry, he may direct such inquiry to be held by two or more persons.

58. At all such inquiries evidence must be taken in writing and signed by the witnesses in the presence of the accused, who may question the witnesses, and make any written statement.

59. The report on such inquiries, with evidence, shall be forwarded to the General Manager.

60. Whenever any member is punished he must be informed in writing by the District Officer of the punishment inflicted, and the precise nature of the offence for which he is punished.

61. Offences may be punished by caution, reprimand, fine, suspension, reduction in rank or pay, or dismissal.

Appeal.

62. For the conduct of elections of the Appeal Boards the following provisions shall apply:—

(1.) There shall be prepared by the General Manager and retained at the Head Office in Wellington four separate alphabetical voting-lists, to wit,—

(a.) One of all members of the First Division resident in the North Island;

(b.) One of all members of the Second Division resident in the North Island;

(c.) One of all members of the First Division resident in the Middle Island; and

(d.) One of all members of the Second Division resident in the Middle Island;

and all such lists may be inspected by members at all reasonable times.

(2.) If any member wishes to take any objection to any list, particulars of such objection must be communicated through his immediate superior officer to the General Manager, Wellington, who shall decide the same, and whose decision shall be final.

(3.) No objection shall be entertained unless it reaches the General Manager not later than the third day before the lists are closed. The lists shall be closed for the purposes of each election on the forty-second day before such election, and shall continue closed until the election is completed.

(4.) The first ordinary election shall be held on the first Monday in October, 1898, and subsequent ordinary elections shall be held on the first Monday in every third year thereafter.

(5.) Special elections shall be held on dates to be fixed by the General Manager, being in no case later than three months after the vacancy occurs, and he shall give to all members concerned not less than two months’ previous notice of the date so fixed.

(6.) Nominations shall be made in writing, by not less than three members in the same list as the candidate, and must reach the Returning Officer at Wellington not later than the twenty-eighth day before the election. Any nomination which fails to duly comply with this subclause shall be void.

(7.) All members registered in the respective lists shall be entitled to vote for one duly nominated member of their own division and Island, to be a member of the Appeal Board for such Island.

(8.) Should only one member be nominated for one elective seat on either Board, that member shall be declared to be duly elected.

(9.) Should there be more than one member nominated for any one seat on either Board, a ballot shall be taken.