May 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1529

24. An apprentice who has served not less than five years’ apprenticeship may on completion of his indenture, and subject to the departmental certificate, be appointed in the Second Division as follows: To Grade 2, Subclass 2, of Class 2; or to Grade 2, Subclass 5, of Class 3.

25. Members of the Traffic and Stores Branches who have served as juniors for the full probationary period, and have been certified as suitable for retention in terms of clause 15 of these regulations, may be rated and employed as guards, signalmen, storemen, and shunters, and when so employed may be paid as such.

26. Any cleaner may be employed from time to time as fireman, and when so employed may be paid as such: Provided always that no cleaner shall be so employed until he has served in the Department as cleaner for not less than two years and has passed the prescribed examination for firemen: Provided further that no cleaner shall be permanently appointed as fireman until he has served the full probationary period and has been certified as suitable for retention in accordance with clause 15 of these regulations.

27. Any fireman may be employed from time to time as engineman, and when so employed may be paid as such: Provided always that no fireman shall be so employed until he has passed the prescribed examination for enginemen.

Promotion.

28. Promotions from a lower to a higher class, subdivision, subclass, or grade shall in all cases be contingent on efficiency, suitability, good conduct, and merit. No promotion shall in any case be made until and unless the General Manager furnishes the certificate required under Regulation 40.

29. No engineering or drafting cadet of the Maintenance Branch shall be eligible for the position of Assistant Engineer until such time as he has qualified as an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

30. No engineering or drafting cadet of the Locomotive Branch shall be eligible for the position of Assistant Mechanical Engineer until he has qualified as an Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

31. Cadets after five years’ service, subject to the regulations, will be ranked as clerks or draftsmen, as the case may be, and receive the minimum pay for the 10th grade in the case of clerical cadets, and £135 per annum in the case of engineering cadets.

32. Cadets desirous of being examined in shorthand shall notify their superior officers of the fact, and submit themselves for examination by such shorthand expert as the General Manager may determine; the fee for first examination in each case to be paid by the Department, but the cadet concerned shall pay for all subsequent examinations.

33. Promotions may be made from the Second to the First Division in the following manner:—

Specially qualified members of the Second Division may be promoted to the First Division as Foremen and Inspectors of the Traffic, Locomotive, and Maintenance Branches respectively.

Members of the Second Division who produce Sixth Standard certificates, and have served not less than six years, may, subject to the provisions of clause 40 of these regulations and the following conditions, be promoted to the First Division as clerks and draftsmen of the 10th grade; and the date on which such members of the Second Division are transferred to Grade 10 of the First Division shall determine the order of further promotion:—

(1.) Members of the Second Division desirous of transfer to the Traffic Branch of the First Division must pass the examination provided in clause 16, subclause (a), of these regulations.

(2.) Members of the Second Division desirous of transfer to the Maintenance, Locomotive, or Stores Branches of the First Division must pass such examination as is prescribed by the General Manager.

(3.) Provided, however, that no transfer from the Second Division to the First Division shall be made unless two members of Subdivision II of the First Division nominated by the General Manager certify that the candidate is competent, by reason of merit, ability, and qualifications, to fulfil the duties of the position he seeks.

Members of the Second Division who have been permanently physically injured in the service, and who, in the opinion of the General Manager, are by reason of such injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unfit to follow their ordinary avocation or take up other duties in the Second Division, may, at the discretion of the General Manager, be transferred to Subdivision II of the First Division, the provisions of subclauses (1), (2), and (3) of clause 33 notwithstanding.

34. Examinations for promotion shall be made by the persons, at the times, and in the subjects prescribed from time to time by the General Manager.

35. On the promotion of any member he shall be paid the initial rate of pay assigned to the subdivision, class, subclass, or grade to which he is promoted, as from the date on which he vacates his old position: Provided, however, that in no case shall he be paid less than the rate of pay he was receiving at the time of such promotion.

36. Members rated at two rates of pay will receive the annual increment in the higher grade only after having actually worked a full year in the higher grade.

37. Where two or more members of the Second Division are transferred to the First Division at the same time, their seniority in respect to each other shall be determined by length of service since date of last permanent appointment. Eligible members shall be transferred in order of seniority.

38. No promotion shall take effect until it has been confirmed by the Minister.

39. Any member who desires to be passed over in the event of promotion being offered to him, or to decline promotion, shall, if his request is acceded to, forfeit his right to future promotion for a period of two years: Provided always that, good and sufficient reasons having been given to the satisfaction of the General Manager, he may at his option restore such right to such member. No member who is absent on extended sick-leave shall be considered eligible for promotion during the period of such absence.

Vacancies.

40. (1.) Whenever a vacancy occurs, or a new position is to be made, the member who has been standing for the longest period at the nearest inferior rate of pay to that attached to such vacancy or position shall be appointed thereto if the General Manager certifies—

(a.) That it is necessary in the interests of the Department to make the appointment;

(b.) That the member named is suitable and qualified to fill it;

(c.) That he has passed the prescribed examinations;

(d.) That he is the member best entitled to the appointment.

(2.) If such member does not fulfil these conditions, then another member shall be selected in like manner, and so on, until the list is exhausted. Every member who has been promoted and who fails to efficiently perform the duties of his position shall be subject to reduction or such other punishment as may be determined.

41. In any case where the General Manager reports to the Minister that no available member is qualified to fill such vacancy or position, the Minister may appoint thereto any person in the temporary employ of the Department who possesses the requisite expert or technical knowledge or skill; and the person so appointed shall be deemed to be a member, and be subject to the regulations for the time being in force and the rules and discipline of the Department.

Travelling-allowances.

42. Members of the First Division when travelling on duty shall be paid the following travelling-allowances for personal expenses, but such allowances shall not be payable when members are travelling on transfer:—

Members whose salaries exceed £600 per annum, 15s. per day.

Members (not otherwise specified) receiving salaries over £400 but not exceeding £600, 12s. 6d. per day.

Members (not otherwise specified) in receipt of salaries not exceeding £400 per annum, 10s. per day.

Duly appointed Relieving-officers, in Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10, and members in same grades temporarily employed as Relieving-officers, will be paid 10s. per day in cases where the period at any one station does not exceed three days; for each additional day up to one week at each such station, 6s. Where the period exceeds seven days at any one station the allowance shall be at a uniform rate of 6s. per day for the whole period at such station.

Cadets, actual expenses, supported by vouchers, not exceeding such sum as the General Manager considers reasonable: Provided always that cadets who are entitled to lodging-allowance shall, in addition to actual expenses, continue to receive such lodging-allowance unless absent on duty from headquarters for periods exceeding one week.

For sea-travel the allowance shall be,—

For first night .. .. .. 5 0
Each subsequent night .. .. 2 6

Provided that where a land journey has to be undertaken before joining vessel out-of-pocket expenses for meals and contingencies may be charged, full details being entered on claim voucher.