1906
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 69

Regulations under “The Government Railways Department Classification Act, 1901.”

RANFURLY, Governor.

ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Government House, at Wellington, this thirty-first day of August, 1903.

Present:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers conferred upon him by “The Government Railways Act, 1900,” and “The Government Railways Department Classification Act, 1901,” and of all other powers and authorities him enabling in this behalf, His Excellency the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, doth hereby revoke the respective regulations made under the above-mentioned Acts on the thirty-first day of August, one thousand nine hundred, and the thirtieth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and one, and gazetted respectively on the sixth day of September, one thousand nine hundred, and the first day of August, one thousand nine hundred and one, and in lieu thereof doth hereby make the regulations set forth in the Schedule hereto, and doth hereby declare that this Order in Council and the regulations hereby made shall come into force on the fourteenth day of September next.

SCHEDULE.

REGULATIONS.

1. In these regulations—“department” means that branch of the public service employed in connection with the Government railways open for traffic; “Minister” means the Minister for Railways; “member” means any person in the permanent employment of the department.

Admission to the Service.

2. No person shall become a member of the department unless he makes application in that behalf in his own handwriting, on the form to be obtained from the General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, Wellington, or from the officers in charge of the various districts throughout the colony, which form must be properly filled in, and supported by the following documents:—

(a.) Registrar’s certificate of birth, or duly stamped statutory declaration of date of birth.

(b.) Original of education certificate.

(c.) Two satisfactory testimonials as to character from well-known individuals.

(d.) A satisfactory testimonial from last employer (if any) as to ability and character, or satisfactory explanation why such testimonial is not procurable.

3. Persons may be temporarily employed in any branch of the department in cases where the Minister is satisfied that the exigencies of the department so require.

4. No person shall become a member if two or more persons belonging to his family are already members (“family” to include father, mother, and their children).

5. No person shall become a member unless he possesses the educational qualification following, that is to say,—

In the case of a labourer (other than Traffic), surfaceman, or platelayer, the Third Standard of the Government schools;

In the case of a cadet (other than engineering or drafting), the Sixth Standard of the Government schools;

In the case of an engineering or drafting cadet, the Junior Civil Service Examination, with position not lower than No. 50 on the list;

In every other case (including Traffic labourers), the Fifth Standard of the Government schools.

6. For the purpose of determining the educational qualifications of every applicant the certificate of the Education Department shall be accepted:

Provided that in the absence of such certificate it shall be sufficient if the applicant furnishes a satisfactory certificate from a duly authorised officer of the Education Department that he has passed an equivalent examination elsewhere than in a Government school.

7. Applications must be addressed to the General Manager, Wellington, and will be recorded in the General Manager’s office.

8. Applications will lapse after being on hand for six months unless renewed before the expiration of that period, but if so renewed they shall continue to rank as on the date when they were first recorded.

9. No person shall become a member until and unless he passes a satisfactory medical examination (fee to be paid by the department) by a medical officer named by the department, and also finds such guarantee of fidelity as the Minister may require.

10. The age of the applicant at the time of his becoming a member shall not be less than the minimum nor greater than the maximum following:—

In the First Division—

As a cadet .. 15 to 17 years last birthday.

In the Second Division—

As a junior porter .. 18

" " surfaceman 18

" " striker .. 18

" " machinist .. 18

" " labourer .. 18

" cleaner .. 18

" surfaceman .. 24 to 34

" labourer .. 24 to 34

As an apprentice .. 15

11. No person shall become a member without the approval of the Minister.

All appointments to Subdivision I. of the First Division shall be made by the Governor.

Probation.

12. Except in the case of apprentices, every person who becomes a member shall be deemed to be on probation during the first three years, during which time he shall not, except as hereinafter provided, be eligible for promotion.

13. 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 member acting for the General Manager, certifies that he is suitable and required.

14. Such certificate shall not be given—

(1.) In the case of a cadet (other than engineering or drafting), unless he has passed an examination before a duly authorised officer, and obtained from him a certificate that he is qualified as a telegraph operator, and that he has a sufficient knowledge of telegraph connections;

(2.) In the case of an engineering or drafting cadet, unless he has passed the Senior Civil Service Examination:

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.

Provided also that cadets in other than the Traffic Branch may, at their own request, and on the authority of the General Manager, be exempted from qualifying in telegraphy; but in such case they will not be eligible for transfer to the Traffic Branch.

Duties and Discipline.

15. 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.

16. Apprentices shall be indentured to the Workshop Manager, or to the Workshop Foreman in cases where there is no Workshop Manager, and the indenture and apprenticeship shall terminate when the apprentice attains twenty-one years of age: Provided, however, that nothing in this clause contained shall affect the provisions of section 12 of “The Government Apprentices Act, 1875.”

17. An apprentice who has served not less than five years’ apprenticeship may, on completion of his indentures, and subject to the departmental certificate, be appointed in the Second Division as follows: To Grade 2, Subclass 2, of Class 2; or to Grade 2, Subclass 4, of Class 3.

18. 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 served in the department as cleaner for not less than one year, has passed the prescribed examination for firemen, and has attained the age of twenty years; provided further that no cleaner shall be permanently appointed as fireman until he has attained the age of twenty-one years.

19. 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.

20. No member joining the service as an engineering or drafting cadet shall be eligible for the position of Assistant Engineer until such time as he has qualified as an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Cadets after six years’ service, subject to the regulations, will be ranked as clerks or draftsmen, as the case may be, and receive the minimum pay for the 9th grade.