1308
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 52

shall be submitted to the Artillery Staff Officer or Inspector of Submarine Mining at Wellington.

435. Requisitions for stationery and forms required by Os.C. Districts shall be made and framed strictly in accordance with the absolute requirements of the office, and larger quantities than actually necessary in an office during any one year are under no circumstances to be applied for. Requisitions for stationery and requisition forms are to be sent to the Under-Secretary for Defence.

436. Forms of requisitions, &c., shall be supplied to Os.C. units or companies on application to the District Office.

ARMS, ACCOUTREMENTS, AND STORES.

437. Arms and accoutrements shall be supplied to all the enrolled members of the Permanent and Volunteer Forces.

438. All arms, accoutrements, and other articles issued to a unit or company shall remain the property of the Government, and the O.C. the unit or company for the time being shall be responsible that they are at all times in a serviceable state, and for their return to store (when required) in good condition, fair wear-and-tear excepted.

439. It shall be the duty of Os.C. Districts to require officers relinquishing or assuming command of a unit or company to sign a mutual certificate of transfer.

440. When the O.C. a unit or company applies for leave of absence, or intends to resign his command, he must obtain a certificate from the officer next in command that all the arms and other articles issued to such unit or company, a list of which must be attached, are complete and in good order. This certificate must accompany the application for leave, or letter tendering the resignation.

441. Arms must invariably be cleaned immediately after use, as any neglect will impair the accuracy of the weapon. Any member of the Permanent or Volunteer Force who fails to keep his arms or accoutrements clean and in good order shall be dealt with as prescribed in section 47 of the Defence Act.

442. There shall be an annual inspection of arms and accoutrements by an armourer.

443. Members of the Permanent or Volunteer Force must not, under any circumstances, tamper with their arms, or use them for other than military purposes; and any arms which, on inspection, may be found to have had any parts improperly altered or damaged shall be at once returned into store, and repaired at the expense of the company or individual.

444. Members of the Permanent or Volunteer Force must not lend any of their arms, appointments, or Government property, nor are they to use any of them except on duty or when practising at the range.

445. Members of the Permanent or Volunteer Force must immediately report any damage or deficiency in their arms, accoutrements, &c., to the O.C. the detachment or company.

446. Any member of the Permanent or Volunteer Force who fails to produce for inspection as required, or on dismissal from the Force for misconduct to deliver up, any arms, accoutrements, or other property intrusted to his care within fourteen days, shall be proceeded against under the Defence Act.

447. Yearly returns of arms and accoutrements, and all Government property on issue to units or companies, must be rendered to the Under-Secretary for Defence not later than the 15th January yearly.

448. All deficiencies, damages, or losses of stores on issue to a battery or company must be reported at once.

449. Os.C. Districts shall, in the case of any Government property being destroyed, lost, or damaged, and before recommending that any arms, equipment, or stores be written off, assemble a Board of three officers to report thereon, and shall forward such report, together with any recommendation or otherwise as may be deemed necessary.

450. When ordnance stores require to be replaced from fair wear-and-tear they must be returned to store, or otherwise disposed of as may be ordered, before a fresh supply is issued.

451. The price of all stores issued to Volunteers on terms of payment must be paid for in advance.