May 30.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1203

will be allowed for such attendance. Double pay will be allowed for working on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day.

14. At the end of each year, if practicable, the permanent staff shall be granted two weeks’ holiday, all public holidays occurring during such period to be included therein. During this period temporary employés will receive one day’s pay for each year’s continuous service until full pay is reached.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

15. Applications by permanent employés for leave of absence shall in all cases be made in writing by or through the Government Printer to the Minister of the department, and shall be accompanied by a statement by the Government Printer showing the total length of absence of the employé from duty, from all causes, during the previous part of the same year.

16. The Government Printer shall, in all cases of application for leave of absence by any employé under him, make a special report — (1) as to the general conduct of the employé during the previous portion of the year, and (2) as to the regularity or irregularity of attendance by the employé for the same period during the hours of attendance prescribed by the first regulation.

17. Special leave may be granted to overseers, readers of the permanent staff, and those employed in the clerical division, on written application to the Government Printer, when approved by the Minister in charge.

18. Any employé absent from the office without such application having been made and granted shall, except in case of sudden illness or other emergency, as mentioned in Rule 7, be deemed to be absent without leave.

19. On application (after ten years’ continuous service), leave of absence may be granted by the Minister of the department (on the recommendation of the Government Printer) to overseers, readers, and those employed in the clerical division, for a period not exceeding three months on full pay, and to others permanently employed for a period not exceeding two months on full pay.

20. In cases of pressing necessity leave of absence may be granted for one week without deduction of salary to any person permanently employed during the preceding five years, provided the circumstances under which the request is made are stated in writing, and are considered sufficient to justify the request being granted.

CLASSIFICATION.

21. The officers permanently employed in the Printing and Stationery Department shall be grouped under three heads, termed the “General,” “Clerical,” and “Mechanical” divisions, as set forth in Schedule C; and such officers shall, subject to the annual Appropriation Act, be entitled to be paid severally the annual increases of salary set forth therein.

INCREASE OF SALARY.

22. Every accrued increase of salary shall date from the first day of the financial year during which such increase may be voted by Parliament; but in the case of promotion to a higher position the increase shall take effect on the day of promotion.

OVERSEERS’ REPORTS.

23. It shall be the duty of the Superintending Overseer, and of the overseers of the clerical and mechanical divisions respectively, to report to the Government Printer at once upon its occurrence any remissness of duty, want of punctuality, or wastefulness on the part of any employé. The Government Printer shall inquire into such complaints, and report to the Minister in charge of the department, making such recommendations as in his opinion the circumstances warrant. They shall also furnish yearly a report upon the efficiency and punctuality of each member of the staff in their respective branches.

24. The overseer in charge of the time-workers on the temporary staff shall in like manner report annually on the character and ability of at least three of his staff who are, in his opinion, the best qualified for and most deserving of promotion to the permanent staff. The overseer of the Pieceroom shall also report annually on the character and ability of at least three of his staff who are, in his opinion, the best qualified and most deserving of promotion to the Time-room.

GOVERNMENT PRINTER’S REPORT.

25. It shall be the duty of the Government Printer half-yearly to furnish the Minister in charge of the department with a report on the general working of the department, making such references to the officers and employés, and suggesting such changes, as may seem to him to be in the interest of the department.

PROMOTIONS:

26. 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 the next; but in cases of equal or nearly equal merit the senior officer shall take precedence.

27. Promotion to the permanent staff shall be made from the ranks of the time-workers on the temporary staff.

28. 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 yearly reports of the overseer of the department in which the vacancy occurs.

29. Readers shall be appointed or promoted by the Minister in charge of the department, on the recommendation of the Government Printer, after consulting with the permanent readers.

RIGHT OF APPEAL.

30. In the event of any member of the staff feeling aggrieved with any decision of the Government Printer affecting himself personally or the branch in which he serves, permission will be given such member to state the grounds of his dissatisfaction, in writing, to the Minister in charge of the department. All appeals to be handed to the Government Printer, who will forward them to the Minister, together with such remarks or explanation as he feels called upon to make. The decision appealed against will remain in force until such time as the decision of the Minister is given.

MISCONDUCT.

31. 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 offence be repeated, 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.

32. Any member of the permanent staff who shall have been reported by the Superintending Overseer