June 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1291

charged for articles thus obtained shall be the lowest at which they can be sold without loss to the Department. All debts incurred by members of the Force for clothing or articles supplied by the Storekeeper’s Department, shall be deducted from their pay by monthly instalments.

281. The senior officer of detachments at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin shall pay all members of Permanent Force stationed there, and keep the pay-list, books, and documents in connection with the pay of the detachments.

282. Officers concerned shall be given an imprest account and indent for the exact amount required for the pay of the detachments, and other necessary expenditure, prior to the 6th day of each month, and shall account for the expenditure of such amount direct to the Under-Secretary for Defence prior to the 6th day of the following month.

RECORDS OF PERMANENT FORCE.

283. All records are to be forwarded to and be kept by O.C.P.F., and are not available for reference by officers, N.C.Os., or men of the P.F. without sanction.

REWARD FUND OF PERMANENT FORCE.

284. All fines and moneys paid in purchase of discharge shall be paid into the Reward Fund, which shall be used for the benefit of the entire Force, or for the benefit or relief of individual members, as may be recommended jointly by O.C.P.F., and the next senior officer of Permanent Force at headquarters, and the Chief Staff Officer of the New Zealand Defence Forces. Such recommendation shall be forwarded to the Commandant, and, if he approves and the Minister confirms, the expenditure or portion thereof may be authorised.

ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND SICKNESS IN PERMANENT FORCE.

285. Men prevented from performing their duty through wounds or illness incurred through the performance of their duty shall receive their full pay. Men prevented from performing their duty through ordinary sickness, or accident whilst off duty, shall have 1s. 6d. per day stopped out of their pay. Men prevented from performing their duty through sickness incurred by their own misconduct shall forfeit all their pay with the exception of 1s. 6d. per day, which shall be paid for their rations.

286. Men receiving injuries while on duty of such a nature as to incapacitate them for a continuous period of upwards of three months shall, on the expiration of that term, if so recommended by a medical officer of the Permanent Force, be granted leave on such pay and for such term as the Minister may determine.

287. When a man is considered by his O.C. to be, through being frequently on the sick-list, physically unfit for the service, a Board consisting of three medical officers shall be convened, and the report of the case shall be forwarded to the O.C.P.F., who in turn will forward the report through the usual channel to headquarters.

LEAVE.—PERMANENT FORCE.

288. An annual leave of not in any case exceeding fourteen days may be granted to officers of the Permanent Force by O.C. the District, or, in the case of officers at headquarters by O.C.P.F. It should when possible be arranged that, in the case of leave of officers on detachment duty, the station should be left in charge of an officer. Only in most exceptional cases shall leave be granted when this cannot be done.

289. Officers returning from leave must make themselves thoroughly acquainted with all orders issued during their absence. Ignorance of orders shall not be accepted as an excuse.

290. N.C.Os. and good-conduct men may be allowed leave of absence for a period not exceeding twelve days, on full pay, during each year by the O.C.P.F., provided the exigencies of the service permit of their absenting themselves from duty. Such leave of absence may be extended for another week, without pay, under special circumstances. N.C.Os. and men may under very special circumstances, in addition to the ordinary leave hereinbefore mentioned, be granted special leave of absence for an additional twelve days by the Commandant, on the recommendation of the O.C.P.F., on full pay.