Mar. 5.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 739

24. The Government Printer shall inquire into all complaints, and report to the Commissioner, making such recommendations as in his opinion the circumstances warrant.

GOVERNMENT PRINTER’S REPORT.

25. It shall be the duty of the Government Printer annually to furnish the Commissioner with a report on each officer and employee.

PROMOTIONS.

26. In selecting a person to fill any vacancy, fitness and merit shall be the first consideration, and seniority the next; but in cases of equal or nearly equal merit the senior officer shall take precedence, provided that there is no substantial reason to the contrary.

27. Appointments to the permanent staff shall be made from the ranks of the time-workers on the temporary staff.

28. In order to give effect as fully as possible to the foregoing regulation, the appointments shall be recommended by the Government Printer on the yearly reports of the overseer of the branch in which the vacancy occurs. Members of the staff shall be notified at once of the nature of any adverse report.

29. Readers shall be appointed or promoted by the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Government Printer after consulting with the four senior readers.

RIGHT OF APPEAL.

30. In the event of any member of the staff feeling aggrieved with any decision of the Government Printer affecting himself personally or the branch in which he serves, permission will be given such member to state the grounds of his dissatisfaction, in writing, to the Commissioner. Each appeal shall be handed to the Government Printer, who shall forward it to the Commissioner within four days, together with such remarks or explanation as he feels called upon to make. The decision appealed against shall remain in force until such time as the decision of the Commissioner is given. In the event of any important decision being appealed against, the person appealing shall have the right to appear before the Commissioner and state his case either personally or by a representative from the staff, and call evidence in support of such appeal.

MISCONDUCT.

31. Should any member of the permanent staff be guilty of negligence or insubordination, it shall be the duty of his overseer to admonish him; but, should such offence be repeated, it shall be the duty of the overseer (through the Superintendent) to report the matter to the Government Printer, who shall deal with it in the manner prescribed by section 52 of the said Act.

32. Any member of the permanent staff who has been guilty of negligence, insubordination, or other misconduct shall not receive for the following year the accrued increase of salary to which he would otherwise have been entitled under Regulation 21.

CONFIDENTIAL WORK.

33. To ensure due secrecy, Ministerial statements and memoranda, Customs-tariff alterations, policy measures, and all work of a strictly confidential character shall, when practicable, be entrusted only to members of the permanent staff. Should the extent or urgency of the work, however, require a wider distribution, it shall be the duty of the overseers to confine it to as few hands as possible.

34. Any employee who may reasonably be suspected of divulging information of a confidential nature shall be suspended, and should proof be forthcoming he shall be at once dismissed by the Commissioner.

PERMANENT STAFF.

35. The permanent staff shall comprise all employees whose names shall appear in a register to be called the “Staff Register,” which shall contain a record of date of appointment, age, absences, gratuities, and any other matters that may be deemed necessary.