Feb. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 427

246. An examination for first-class gunners or sappers shall be held yearly, and those second-class gunners or sappers who pass such examination may be promoted by the O.C.P.F. to first-class gunners or sappers as vacancies occur. All first-class gunners or sappers must pass the requisite examination each year; if they fail to do so they shall be reduced to second-class gunners or sappers. Gunners or sappers employed at their respective trades shall be rated as first-class gunners or sappers without passing the above examination.

247. Examination papers shall be set by O.C.P.F., and examinations may be held as often as he may think fit. The above examination shall be carried out on the same date by the O.C.P.F or O.C. detachment, in the latter case the results being forwarded to O.C.P.F.

248. All promotions to and in non-commissioned rank shall be made by the Commandant on the recommendation of the O.C.P.F., and in making such recommendation seniority and the result of examination shall be taken into consideration, and the N.C.O. or man, though junior in length of service, having twenty more marks than the one being senior, and being otherwise qualified and eligible, and having had no entry on his defaulter sheet for two years, shall be recommended for the first vacancy in higher rank. N.C.Os. or men shall only be permitted to sit for one grade above their then present rank. Papers for examination on promotion shall be set by the O.C.P.F., and examinations held where he may think fit. No promotion shall be made unless the necessary examination has first been passed, and any promotion may be annulled by the Minister.

249. Os.C. detachments shall recommend direct to O.C.P.F. men who are qualified and fitted for promotion, and the O.C.P.F. shall report to the Commandant, who shall recommend to the Minister.

250. The O.C.P.F. shall report any N.C.O. for incompetence to the Commandant, who may reduce the said N.C.O. for being incompetent.

DISCHARGES FROM PERMANENT FORCE.

251. The maximum term for which a member can continue to serve in the Permanent Force or the reserve is twenty-one years, after the completion of which he shall be discharged.

252. Every member may obtain his discharge at his own request at any time during the first three years on payment of the sum of £3, and at any time during the next succeeding two years on payment of the sum of £2, and after five years of service without payment. In the case of trumpeters, one-half of the above payments only will be required.

253. Every member obtaining his discharge by payment or otherwise shall be enrolled on the reserve list, and shall be liable to be called on at any time to rejoin the Force for duty during the remainder of the period of eight years referred to in Regulation No. 244.

254. A member obtaining his transfer on probation from the Permanent Force to join the Police Force shall be required to leave a deposit equal to the purchase of his discharge with the O.C. detachment, and, in event of non-acceptance for the Police Force, such deposit shall be refunded on rejoining the Permanent Force.

255. Members may at any time be discharged by the O.C.P.F., subject to the approval of the Commandant, as unfit for duty on the recommendation of a Board of three medical officers.

256. In estimating and recording the characters of members of the Permanent Force, the following terms only are to be used: “Very good,” “good,” “fair,” “indifferent,” “bad,” and “very bad.” If such member’s character has recently changed, and, in the opinion of the recording officer, it cannot be properly described by any of the above terms without qualification, the word “latterly” may be used as a prefix. In estimating characters officers are primarily to ground their opinion on the documentary records; but a man’s deportment, his cleanliness, and the manner in which he has performed his several duties, should at the same time be considered in his favour or otherwise.

COMMAND OF PERMANENT FORCE.

257. The O.C.P.F. shall be responsible for the training and for the general efficiency of the Permanent Force, and for the keeping of all records connected therewith.

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