1552
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 38

182. An officer is not to reprove a N.C.O. in the presence or hearing of privates, unless it is necessary for the benefit of example that the reproof be public.

183. If an officer thinks himself wronged by his commanding officer, and on due application made to him does not receive the redress to which he may consider himself entitled, he may complain, in writing, to his Brigade Commander, who is hereby required to examine into such complaint, make a report to the O.C. District, and receive his directions thereon.

184. In cases of officers not serving under a Brigade (or Coast Defence) Commander the complaint will be sent direct to the O.C. District. The O.C. District will then either give his directions thereon or submit the matter to the G.O.C.

185. If any soldier thinks himself wronged in any matter by any officer other than his Captain, or by any soldier, he may complain thereof to his Captain; and if he thinks himself wronged by his Captain, either in respect of his complaint not being redressed or in respect of any other matter, he may complain thereof to his commanding officer; and if he thinks himself wronged by his commanding officer either in respect of his complaint not being redressed, or in respect of any other matter, he may complain thereof to his Brigade Commander; and every officer to whom a complaint is made in pursuance of this section shall cause such complaint to be inquired into, and shall, if on inquiry he is satisfied as to the justice of the complaint so made, take such steps as may be necessary for giving full redress to the complainant in respect of the matter complained of. If the soldier still thinks himself wronged, either in respect of his complaint not being redressed or in respect of any other matter, he may complain thereof, through the proper channel, to the G.O.C. A soldier may, if he so desire, submit his complaint in writing.

186. The senior combatant officer at any place where troops are located or assembled will in all cases be held responsible for the maintenance of discipline and order at that place, and to that extent will be the commander of all troops located or assembled there.

187. An officer is at all times responsible for the maintenance of good order and discipline, and for upholding the credit of the Military Forces of the Dominion; he is to afford the utmost aid and support to his C.O. It is his duty to repress, and instantly report, any negligence or impropriety of conduct of N.C.O.s and private soldiers when in uniform, whether the offenders do or do not belong to his particular unit or corps.

188. A C.O. should impress upon all under his command the propriety of courtesy in intercourse with all those with whom they, as officers and soldiers, are brought into contact, and should particularly caution them to pay deference and respect to Civil authorities.

189. Attempts to obtain favourable consideration of any application by the use of outside influence are forbidden, and, if resorted to, will be regarded as an admission on the part of the applicant that his case is not good on its merits, and it will be dealt with accordingly.

190. When an interview is asked for, or a letter written on behalf of an officer by any person other than himself, such application will be deemed to have been made at his suggestion, unless he can show to the satisfaction of the authorities that he has no knowledge, directly or indirectly, of such application.

191. Officers and soldiers in their capacity as such must guard against being placed in such a position that they may be influenced, or may lay themselves open to the suspicion of being influenced, in the discharge of their duty by other than purely public considerations.

192. An officer or soldier is forbidden to institute, or take part in, any meetings, demonstrations, or processions for party or political purposes, in barracks; quarters, camps, or their vicinity. Under no circumstances whatever will he attend such meetings, wherever held, in uniform.

193. Any information of a professional nature which an officer or soldier may acquire while travelling or employed on duty is to be regarded as the property of the Defence Department, and is not to be published in any form without previously obtaining the permission of the G.O.C. An officer or soldier is not to prejudge questions which are under the consideration of superior military authority, by the publication, anonymously or otherwise, of his opinions, and he is not to take part in public in a discussion relating to orders, regulations, or instructions issued by his superiors.

DISCIPLINE IN THE NEW ZEALAND STAFF CORPS, PERMANENT STAFF, AND PERMANENT FORCE.

194. Officers, warrant officers, N.C.O.s, and men of the N.Z. Staff Corps, Permanent Staff, and Permanent Force are subject to military law at all times.

195. In all cases when and where applicable, and when not otherwise provided for in the N.Z. Defence Acts or regulations made thereunder, the N.Z. Staff Corps, Permanent Staff, and Permanent Force will be governed by the Army Act and King’s Regulations so far as the maintenance of discipline is concerned.

196. As regards fines for simple drunkenness in the case of private soldiers of the Permanent Staff and Permanent Force the following scale will be adhered to, subject to the soldier’s right to elect, before award, to be tried by Court-martial:—

First offence of simple drunkenness, fine of £1.

Second offence, if within six months of previous offence, fine of £2; if over six months, £1.

Third offence, dismissal from the Force.

197. The O.C. Depot, Permanent Force, has the powers of a Commanding Officer.

198. O.C. Detachments of Permanent Force in districts—if not below the rank of Captain—will have the powers of commanding officers; if below the rank of Captain they will have the powers of a Company Commander as detailed in the King’s Regulations. Cases which cannot be dealt with by an O.C. Detachment will be referred to the O.C. District.

199. Members of the Permanent Staff will, as regards discipline, be under the officers of the N.Z. Staff Corps under whom they are serving. For this purpose Officers in charge of Area Groups and Adjutants will have the powers of Company Commanders. Offences requiring reference to superior authority will be submitted to the O.C. District, who will report the action taken, or refer the case, to the Adjutant-General of the Forces.

DISCIPLINE IN THE TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Offences.

200. Officers and soldiers of the New Zealand Territorial Force who commit, when performing military duty or going to or from the place of parade, exercise, or military duty, any of the offences specified in Part I of the Army Act shall be liable to be arrested, tried by Court-martial, and punished in the manner laid down in the Army Act, and the Rules of Procedure: provided that when the offence for which the officer or soldier is tried is one of those specified in the Defence Act, the punishment awarded shall not exceed that therein laid down for that offence.

Arrest and Military Custody.

201. When mobilized or in camps of training, officers and soldiers of the Territorial Force charged with any military offence may be arrested as laid down in the King’s Regulations. At all other times offences which cannot be dealt with on the spot will be reported to superior authority for instructions as to disposal, the offender in the meantime, except in cases of violence, being placed in open arrest. An officer or soldier in “open arrest” will not be allowed to wear uniform or attend parades until his case is dealt with by superior authority.

202. In cases of violence the offender will be handed over to the Civil authorities for temporary custody on the authority of the senior officer or N.C.O. available on the spot. The officer or N.C.O. ordering the arrest will report the case at once by telegram to the offender’s company, &c., commander, and to the headquarters of the unit or corps to which the offender belongs.

Summary and Minor Punishments in the Territorial Force.

203. A commanding officer may, subject to the soldier’s right to elect, previous to the award, to be tried by District Court-martial, inflict the following summary punishments on a private soldier:—

(1.) Fines not exceeding £2, but

(2.) In the case of simple drunkenness, a fine not exceeding £1, according to scale.

(3.) Fines sufficient to make good any expenses caused by him, or for any loss of, or damage, or destruction done by him to any arms, ammunition, equipment, clothing, instruments, or regimental necessaries or military decoration, or to any buildings or property; provided that the total fines in any award under this sub-para. shall not exceed £5.

(4.) In the case of non-commissioned officers not above the rank of corporal, reduction to the ranks.

204. The following scale of fines for simple drunkenness will be adhered to:—

First offence, 10s.

Second offence within twelve months, £1.

Third offence within twelve months, trial by Court-martial.

Otherwise a fine of 10s. will be imposed for each instance of simple drunkenness.

205. A commanding officer may also inflict the following minor punishments, the soldier having no right to claim trial by Court-martial:—

(1.) Fines not exceeding £1, except for drunkenness (private soldiers only).

(2.) Confinement to camp or barracks (private soldiers only) for any period not exceeding fourteen days or to the termination of the training camp, during which defaulters will be required to answer to their names at uncertain hours throughout the day, and will be employed on fatigue

• Unless there are reasons against the adoption of such a course, a soldier may, on the following day, be given an opportunity of reconsidering his decision to be tried by Court-martial.