Jan. 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 251

420. The regimental transport of all units will be subject to periodic inspection by the O.C. Army Service Corps in each district, or by an officer deputed by him.

GOVERNMENT HORSES.

421. A Board of officers, of which the P.V.O. District will be a member, will be nominated by O.C. Districts for the purpose of purchasing horses in each district when required.

422. Officers employed in the purchase of horses will, as soon as practicable, transmit to District Headquarters, in duplicate, a description of each horse passed into the service. A description of all horses will be recorded in a regimental or corps “Horse-book,” and a number assigned to each.

423. Letters indicating the regiment or corps to which the horse is allotted will be branded on the off hind foot, the regimental or corps number assigned on the near hind foot.

424. Veterinary Officers who examine horses offered for purchase for the service and form a favourable opinion of them will certify that “These horses, from a military point of view, are practically sound and fit for the service.” Horses not so certified are not to be purchased as remounts.

425. In the event of a remount becoming unfit for service within one month after joining, a special report will be at once forwarded to District Headquarters, stating the nature and probable cause of the condition, and the prospect of recovery or otherwise.

426. The Commanding Officer will cause a veterinary-history sheet (in manuscript), which will be signed by himself and a Veterinary Officer, to be prepared for each remount received, and this sheet will in all circumstances accompany the horse.

427. In recording the age of horses on the veterinary-history sheet the age is to be reckoned from the 1st November in the year in which the horse was foaled.

428. In case any animals are detached, their veterinary-history sheets are to be sent with them, and not retained at Regimental Headquarters. Each entry of treatment in the veterinary-history sheet will be signed by the Veterinary Officer in charge.

429. The veterinary certificate is to be rendered by Veterinary Officers of regiments on each occasion of transfer of Government animals, whether permanent or temporary.

430. Commanding Officers will forward half-yearly, as soon after the 1st July and 1st January as possible, to O.sC. District, a return of any horse they consider unfit for the service. The return should include horses of fifteen years or upwards which are either at the time unserviceable from age or likely to become so during the following six months. This return will be considered by the O.C. District, who will himself inspect or direct another officer, assisted by the Principal Veterinary Officer, to inspect and cast the horses, and arrange for them to be replaced.

431. The O.C. District may order the destruction of any horse on account of contagious disease or incurable injuries.

432. If possible, before doing so, a certificate must be obtained from the P.V.O. District showing that the disease absolutely necessitates the destruction of the horse or that the injury is incurable. In every instance, either before or after the horse is destroyed, a Board, of which the P.V.O. District will be a member, will be assembled to view the horse and take evidence of the whole of the circumstances of the case. If the horse has not already been destroyed the Board will express an opinion as to the necessity for its destruction. The proceedings will be forwarded to District Headquarters, where they will be retained.

433. If a horse dies suddenly or within twenty-four hours of its having become ill, a Board will investigate and report upon the circumstances and causes which led to the death.

434. In cases where a horse has to be urgently destroyed, a Board will assemble as soon as possible afterwards to consider the circumstances.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the District Headquarters.

Chaplains : Divine Service.

435. Chaplains will be attached to units on the recommendation of C.O.s according to the requirements of the unit.

436. A C.O. will render Chaplains every assistance in carrying out their duties.

437. Chaplains will be entitled to remuneration, as laid down in Financial Instructions and Allowance Regulations for N.Z.M.F., when detailed for duty at camps of training.

438. At the annual camp every soldier, when not prevented by military duty, will attend Divine service, but a soldier will not be obliged to attend the service of any other religious body than his own.

Soldiers will be marched to and from their places of worship, and the officer or N.C.O. in charge will remain with them throughout the service.

439. Facilities will be provided on all possible occasions to enable Chaplains to conduct Divine service in camp, and in other ways to minister to the spiritual requirements of officers and men of the Territorial Force belonging to their respective denominations whilst in camp.

On Sundays service will be held in camp before 11 a.m., if desired, or at the ordinary hour for Divine service; and, where convenient, men may parade and attend any church in the vicinity of the camping-ground, according to their several denominations.

Men desirous of being absent during Sunday afternoon for the purpose of religious observance will be granted leave for a period not exceeding two hours. This may include Bible classes, voluntary attendances at which will be arranged by the commanding officer on application made by the Chaplain of any denomination.

440. The duty of playing troops to church will not interfere with the attendance of a bandsman, drummer, bugler, or piper at the regular service of his own denomination.

Leave of Absence.

441. An officer who obtains leave will give his address and notify any change in it to District Headquarters.

NEW ZEALAND STAFF CORPS, R.N.Z.A., AND PERMANENT STAFF.

442. Leave of absence for one month per year may be granted by the officer commanding a district to officers of the N.Z. Staff Corps and R.N.Z.A. Warrant officers and N.C.O.s of the Permanent Staff may be similarly granted twenty-one days and eighteen days respectively. An O.C. Detachment R.N.Z.A. may grant twenty-one days leave per year to warrant officers of the R.N.Z.A. and eighteen days to N.C.O.s and men of the R.N.Z.A.

No officer of the N.Z.S.C. or R.N.Z.A., and no W.O., N.C.O., or man of the R.N.Z.A. or Permanent Staff shall quit the Dominion without permission from Headquarters. Applications for leave to quit the Dominion will be forwarded through District Headquarters, and the O.C. District will append thereto his recommendation or other remarks.

Annual leave of absence for recreation may be granted to officers, W.O.s, N.C.O.s, or men during the period from the 1st June to the 31st October, or between the 15th December and the 15th January, provided their services can be spared. The granting of annual leave of absence to N.C.O.s and men shall be subject to the express condition that the character and general behaviour of the applicant have been in every way satisfactory, and that he has been finally approved of for the service. No soldier shall be entitled to claim leave of absence as a right, and if for any cause the soldier’s C.O. thinks such leave ought not to be granted he may refuse the same.

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

443. Leave of absence from the annual camp will only be granted to officers of the Territorial Force in very exceptional circumstances. Such leave will not be given without the sanction of a superior officer having powers not less than those of a Brigade Commander.

444. No officer of the Territorial Force may quit the Dominion without permission from Headquarters.

445. An officer who applies for leave on account of sickness will forward a medical certificate.

446. Under instructions received from the Brigade Commander the officer commanding a unit may excuse an officer or soldier from any portion of the annual training on account of sickness duly certified The sickness will be recorded in the soldier’s Record-books.

447. A C.O. may grant leave to any officer or soldier of the Territorial Force during annual training in camp for a period not exceeding one night, such leave should only be granted in urgent cases.

448. In cases where leave for one night is granted, not more than one hour’s drill or exercise must be missed. Leave of absence will not be given for the first or last night of training to more than 10 per cent. of the establishment.

449. Any W.O., N.C.O., or man of the Territorial Force, or a Senior Cadet, before leaving the Dominion will obtain permission from his C.O.; if such absence entails loss of training the question whether such training is or is not to be made up on his return is to be referred to the Brigade Commander.

450. A member of the Military Forces desirous of obtaining exemption from personal service on the grounds that undue hardship is caused by the requirements of such service (section 33 (n), Defence Amendment Act, 1912), will first give fourteen days’ notice to the officer commanding his unit, and at the expiration of that period the applicant will make written application to the nearest Magistrates’ Court.

The officer commanding the unit will inquire into the merits of each case, and within the fourteen days will notify the Clerk of the Magistrates’ Court whether he recommends or intends to oppose the application, and the application shall be heard and determined by a Magistrate.

SECTION IX.—MOVEMENTS AND TRAVELLING.

General Instructions.

451. No movement of any corps or unit, or any portion of a corps or unit, from one military district to another shall take place without sanction previously being obtained from Headquarters.