Feb. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 417

116. Officers of the Medical Corps shall be allocated for duty to units or companies by the Commandant on the recommendation of the P.M.O. Such allocations shall be published in “General Orders.”

117. Divisions of garrison Artillery and battalions shall be allowed two medical officers. Field batteries and Engineer companies shall be allowed one medical officer. A company having at the time these regulations come into force a surgeon-captain may retain the same on existing conditions.

118. (1.) The P.M.O. shall, as far as possible, deal with all matters connected with the Medical Corps in his district, and shall only refer to the O.C. the District in matters which are absolutely necessary. All proposed appointments of medical officers shall be referred to him for his recommendation or otherwise; all district medical equipments and stores shall be under his charge; and all correspondence relating to the medical service in his district shall be referred through him.

(2.) The P.M.O. shall from time to time, when directed by the O.C., inspect all stores and equipment under his charge, and shall report annually prior to the 1st April to the Surgeon-general on their efficiency, and on all medical officers in the district.

(3.) The P.M.O. shall detail medical officers to inspect, visit, or attend camps and parades as he may think fit. The P.M.O. shall be responsible that such duties are performed.

(4.) The P.M.O. may, through the O.C. the District, order a parade of the Field Hospital and Bearer company at any time for the purpose of inspection or instruction. The O.C. the Field Hospital and Bearer company shall report all matters bearing on the medical service through P.M.O.

119. An officer of the New Zealand Medical Corps who has served for more than twenty years in the Defence Forces shall, on completing such period of service, be eligible to be appointed surgeon-lieutenant-colonel; and a medical officer who has served for more than twelve years shall be eligible to be appointed surgeon-major. A medical officer may at any time be specially selected and promoted.

120. Medical officers who have served in His Majesty’s regular naval or military forces shall be entitled, if they are appointed to New Zealand Medical Corps, to a rank equal to that held by them in such forces.

121. All medical officers shall be of non-combatant rank.

122. Medical officers who qualify annually as hereinafter provided shall be classed as “efficient,” and shall be deemed to have earned capitation as provided in Regulation No. 338.

123. Medical officers who are twice consecutively returned as inefficient shall have their commissions cancelled.

124. Medical officers when attending camps will be allowed travelling allowance as provided in Regulation No. 385.

125. The Surgeon-general may from time to time make such recommendations to the Commandant for the administration and efficiency of the medical service as he deems necessary, and shall in so recommending take as his guide the Regulations of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

126. Medical officers who have received commissions prior to the formation of the New Zealand Medical Corps may transfer into such corps without loss of seniority provided such transfer takes place before the 1st June, 1906.

127. Officers of Medical Corps shall, except in special cases, be retired at the age of sixty, and no medical officer shall remain on the Active List after the age of sixty-five.

NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY CORPS.

128. (1.) All veterinary officers shall be formed into a corps to be called the “New Zealand Veterinary Corps.”

(2.) Such corps shall be under the control of a principal veterinary officer with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel, who shall report direct to, and shall receive orders and instructions from, the Commandant.

129. All officers of the Veterinary Corps must be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, or hold equivalent credentials.

130. The ranks of officers in the New Zealand Veterinary Corps shall be as follows: Veterinary-surgeon lieutenant-colonel, veterinary surgeon-major, and veterinary surgeon-captain.