Feb. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 429

274. Men drunk on duty and in uniform shall be dismissed from the Permanent Force. A first offender for drunkenness (not on duty or in uniform) shall be fined 10s.; if a second offence is committed within six months the man shall be dismissed. If the offence is committed at a greater than six months’ interval from the first offence he shall be fined £1. In case of a third offence the man shall be dismissed.

275. When a member of the Permanent Force is convicted of any serious offence by the civil power the case is to be reported by the O.C. the detachment for the consideration of the O.C. the District, who shall report all cases to the O.C.P.F., who shall suspend such member and report the same to the Commandant.

276. Members of the Permanent Force against whom debts are proved in a civil Court will have such recorded in their defaulter-sheets, and entries of this description shall be a bar to all promotion or advancement, if not more severely dealt with.

277. A member shall forfeit the whole of his day’s pay for every day he is absent without leave. A member shall be regarded as absent for one day—
     (a.) When he has been absent without leave for six consecutive hours:
     (b.) When, owing to his absence without leave, he has been prevented from fulfilling some military duty, which was thereby thrown on some other person.

INTERIOR ECONOMY OF PERMANENT FORCE.

278. Os.C. detachments of Permanent Force shall make such arrangements as regards barrack accommodation as will tend most to the convenience of the men and the good of the service.

279. The regularity of the men’s messing is of the first importance, as their health, good order, and comfort in a great measure depend upon it; the strictest attention of officers and N.C.Os. is therefore demanded to this. Officers shall frequently visit the mess-room during meals to ascertain that all matters as to messing are satisfactory.

280. For the purpose of enabling members of the Permanent Force to provide themselves with the different articles according to the regulated pattern and quality, the material and articles can be obtained on requisition from the Defence Store. The prices to be 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.