Feb. 10.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 495

his own interests by rigidly observing all the regulations for the Police Force, and steadily pursuing such a line of conduct as will place him above the fear of accusation or recrimination in the event of his being obliged to report his men for any misconduct. While treating his men with kindness and consideration, he is to avoid forfeiting their respect by undue familiarity.

40. He ought, by his own example, to uphold the authority of his superiors, and he must prohibit his men from speaking disrespectfully of officers of the Police Force or other officers of the Public Service. He shall take care that his men abstain from entering upon any religious or political discussion, whether among themselves or with others.

41. He must not reprove his men in the presence of prisoners or the public, but reserve such observations for a fitting occasion. He must be perfectly impartial in the division of all the duties of his station, performing his own portion of them in accordance with the regulations of the Police Force. The station books, and all other public records and documents, must be kept in his custody and ready for production as required. He will be held strictly responsible for the appearance of his men and barracks, the state of their arms, ammunition, appointments, and every article of public property committed to his charge. He must show an example of neatness in his own dress and appointments, and of perfect cleanliness of his person and quarters; and he must not fail to report any serious breach of the regulations to his superior officer.

42. At stations where there is only one Sergeant to attend to all duties, he is not required to inspect men going on or coming off duty between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., unless he has special reasons for doing so.

Constables.

43. A Constable shall always be placed under the control of a superior, but in the execution of his duty as a peace officer he is generally called upon to act on his own responsibility. He should therefore be a person of intelligence, discretion, active habits, and good temper. His first duty is perfect obedience to his superiors. He shall receive the orders of those above him with deference and respect, and execute them with alacrity. He must always be on the alert for the prevention of crime and the protection of the public; and he must never omit to report to his Sergeant, or other superior under whom he is serving, any circumstance that may appear to affect the public peace or the character of the Force.

General.

44. The Superintendent shall be strictly responsible for the state of his division and for the conduct and efficiency of all under his command. In like manner the Inspector shall be responsible for his district; and the Sub-Inspector, Senior Sergeant, or Sergeant, for his sub-district; and the Chief or other Detective, for the men under his charge. If, therefore, irregularities are discovered the Superintendent, Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Senior Sergeant, Sergeant, Chief or other Detective who neglected to report them will have to answer for his neglect.

45. As Superintendents and Inspectors must be held responsible for any irregularities or defects, it is directed that when a Superintendent or Inspector assumes charge of a division or district he shall with as little delay as possible make a general inspection of it, and report to the Commissioner anything defective or contrary to the regulations of the Force which then comes under his observation, so as to relieve himself of all responsibility connected therewith.

46. In all cases where members of the Force are found by the Commissioner, when on general inspection duty, to be either unfit for their rank or very defective in the knowledge of their duties, the Superintendent or Inspector, as the case may be, will be held immediately responsible where such cases have not been reported by him.

47. It shall be observed as an invariable rule that in the absence of a superior his authority and responsibility devolve upon the next in rank, unless otherwise specially directed. A due regard for discipline therefore renders it indispensable that every Police party, however small, proceeding upon duty should have a responsible head; and it shall be understood that when there is no officer or non-commissioned officer available to take charge of the party, the officer or Sergeant sending the party on duty should name a Constable for the purpose, who shall be accountable for the proper performance of the duty and be obeyed, for the time being, as if he were a Sergeant. In default of any such special appointment the senior Constable shall take upon himself the command, and be held responsible for the discharge of the required duty.

48. Every member of the Force shall receive the lawful commands of his superior with deference and respect, and execute them with alacrity; and every superior in his turn shall give his orders in temperate language, showing due regard for the feelings of those under his command. And inasmuch as it would be manifestly subversive of discipline were any member of the Force to be allowed to comment either favourably or otherwise upon the orders or official conduct of his superior, such a practice is prohibited.

Accounts.

49. The strictest economy shall be exercised in all matters relating to official expenditure by members of the Police Force.

50. Officers in charge of districts will be held responsible for any mistakes in accounts certified to by them.

51. The regulations respecting public accounts issued by the Treasury must be implicitly obeyed.

52. The pay of the Police (except salaried officers) shall be paid monthly out of imprest by the officer in charge of the district, who shall requisition on the 1st day of each month for an imprest advance sufficient to meet the amount of pay and incidental expenses for that month.

53. Abstracts for the salaries and allowances of officers must be forwarded so as to reach the Commissioner’s office by the 7th of each month.

54. A Register of Accounts shall be kept in each district, in which full particulars of all vouchers paid or forwarded for direct payment must be entered. The vouchers must be arranged alphabetically and numbered consecutively, and those paid out of imprest must be entered separately and totalled, so that the total will agree with the Cash Balance Book.

55. Detailed instructions relating to accounts will be issued by circular as occasion arises.

Annual Report.

56. As soon after the 31st day of March in each year as possible each Superintendent or Inspector shall submit to the Commissioner a report upon his district for the year ending on that date.