JUNE 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1283

Colonial Defences Secrets Act, 1891,” to be dealt with as therein laid down.

184. No member of the Defence Forces is to address in writing an officer on any subject connected with duty except through the prescribed channel.

185. Officers when communicating with a superior authority shall do so individually. The collective opinion of officers shall not be received, being contrary to the rules of military service and discipline.

186. N.C.Os. and men of the Defence Forces, when in uniform, shall at all times salute His Excellency the Governor and all commissioned officers of His Majesty’s Imperial Forces and of the Defence Forces of the colony, when in uniform.

187. Officers of units or companies are required to report, through the proper channel, all breaches of discipline and neglect of duty to the O.C. the District.

188. Disobedience of orders or any disrespect shown to any superior officer must be instantly reported to the O.C. the unit or company; and it is to be impressed on all ranks that discipline depends so essentially upon obedience to superiors that all must see that it is strictly enforced. N.C.Os. failing to report any contempt or neglect of their authority shall be liable to reduction.

189. After an officer or member of the Defence Forces is reported as having been placed under arrest, he cannot be released except by order of the officer to whom he has been reported, or, in such officer’s unavoidable absence, by the officer next in command.

190. Military duty is held to mean not only presence under arms on parade, but the performance of all administrative duties of a military nature in or out of uniform.

191. Officers and men of the Defence Forces, while going to, present at, or returning from any parade, inspection, or military exercise, will be under the authority of the senior officer or N.C.O. present; but, though the senior officer present shall be held responsible for the maintenance of order and discipline, yet he is not hereby authorised to interfere in other respects.

Discipline of Volunteers.

192. With respect to the discipline of the Volunteer Force, the following provisions shall take effect and be in force while they are not on actual military service or in a camp of exercise.

193. An arrest is held, in accordance with the custom of the military service, to mean a suspension from all military duty, including target practice, until the case leading to such arrest is disposed of.

194. The O.C. a District may, on the report of the O.C. a company or unit, and after due inquiry, dismiss any Volunteer, not being a commissioned officer, and strike his name off the muster-roll of the company or unit, and may disrate any N.C.O. thereof, for disobedience of any lawful command or order of any of his superior officers while doing any military duty, or for neglect of duty or misconduct by him as a member of the company or unit, or for other sufficient cause; the existence or sufficiency of such cause respectively shall be determined by the O.C. the District.

195. Any Volunteer dismissed as herein provided shall not be eligible to serve in any branch of the Permanent Force or Volunteer Force for three years thereafter; or, in aggravated cases, such further period as may be fixed by the Minister.

196. Whenever an O.C. of a District summarily dismisses a Volunteer, he shall report the same, with the attendant circumstances, to the Commandant, who shall submit the same to the Minister for report to the Governor, who may signify his pleasure thereupon, and give such directions with respect to any such dismissal as may seem to him just and proper.

197. Whenever any person serving in the Volunteer Force is deemed by the officer commanding the unit or company in which such person is enrolled or serving to be guilty of any of the offences following, that is to say:—

Neglecting or refusing to attend any parade, inspection, or military exercise;

Absenting himself without leave from any parade, inspection, or military exercise during any part of the time appointed therefor;