708
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 30

Regulations for the Organization, Training, Discipline, and Control of the National Reserve.

LIVERPOOL. Governor
ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Government Buildings at Wellington, this first day of March, 1916.

Present:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

WHEREAS by section three, subsection three, of the Defence Amendment Act, 1915, it is enacted that the Governor may by Order in Council make regulations for the organization, training, discipline, and control of the National Reserve, or may in like manner approve any rules made for such purposes by the governing body of the National Reserve, or of any unit of the National Reserve:

Now, therefore, His Excellency the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the said Act, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, doth hereby make the regulations set forth in the Schedule hereto, and order that such regulations shall have effect from and after the date of publication thereof in the New Zealand Gazette.

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SCHEDULE.

SECTION 1.—COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION.

1. THE National Reserve shall consist of all voluntary military units throughout the Dominion organized for training, as provided in section 3, Defence Amendment Act, 1915, including all voluntary naval reserves when specially approved by the Governor.

2. Only British subjects are qualified to serve in the Reserve:—

(a.) Ex officers of any military forces and of the Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and kindred colonial forces.

(b.) (1.) Ex naval ratings and marine ranks.

(2.) Naval and marine pensioners over fifty-five years; Royal Naval Reserve pensioners enrolled prior to 1906 at sixty-five years.

(3.) Royal Fleet Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Volunteer Reserve, and kindred colonial forces.

(c.) Ex soldiers and special reserve.

(d.) Ex militiamen.

(e.) Ex Yeomanry, ex Volunteers, and ex members of colonial forces.

(f.) Ex Territorials, if not disqualified under section 3, Defence Amendment Act, 1915.

(g.) Individuals who have been duly granted a war medal, and if not otherwise disqualified.

(h.) Ex members of Constabulary.

(i.) Legion of Frontiersmen.

(j.) Honorary members of rifle clubs.

(k.) Honorary Territorials.

(l.) Members of St. John Ambulance and Red Cross Association.

(m.) Other persons not prohibited by subsection (2) of section 3, Defence Amendment Act, 1915.

3. The general organization shall, so far as is practical and consistent, be in accordance with the conditions laid down in New Zealand establishments, the Staff establishment to vary according to requirements.

4. The National Reserve districts shall be as follows:—

(1.) The Auckland Military District.

(2.) The Wellington Military District.

(3.) The Canterbury Military District.

(4.) The Otago Military District.

Subdistricts shall be as follows:—

(a.) Marlborough, excluding the portion south of the Clarence River, to be a subdistrict of Canterbury;

(b.) Nelson and Westland to be a subdistrict of Canterbury; and

(c.) Southland, including Wallace County and Stewart Island, to be a subdistrict of Otago.

The governing body shall have power to further subdivide any of the above National Reserve districts or subdistricts.

The Railway and Post and Telegraph Sections of the National Reserve shall be considered as separate divisions under its own commander.

Government.

5. The government of the Reserve shall be vested in an Executive Council of Officers as follows:—

The Dominion Commandant appointed by the Honourable Minister of Defence.

The District Commandant of each district or subdistrict.

The Commanders of the Railway Engineers and Post and Telegraph Sections.

The Commander, Volunteer Naval Reserves, when such reserve is approved.

The command and general military administration of the Reserve shall be in the hands of the Dominion Commandant, with headquarters at Wellington, and the Council shall meet at stated periods and places to be determined by the Council under their own rules of procedure; three to form a quorum.

The District and Subdistrict Commandants shall be appointed by the Honourable Minister of Defence on the recommendation of the Dominion Commandant.

SECTION 2.—COMMANDERS AND DUTIES.

6. Subject to approval of the Honourable Minister of Defence, by notification in the New Zealand Gazette, eligible officers may be appointed as follows:—

(a.) The Dominion Commandant, National Reserve.

(b.) The District Commandant of each district and subdistrict.

(c.) The Commander of the Volunteer Naval Reserve Branches.

(d.) The Commander of the Railway Engineers Section.

(e.) The Commander of the Post and Telegraph Section.

The commander of the Railway Section shall be appointed by the Honourable Minister of Defence on the joint recommendation of the Commandant and the General Manager of Railways.

The commander of the Post and Telegraph Section shall be appointed by the Honourable Minister of Defence on the joint recommendation of the Commandant and the Secretary of the Postal Department.

7. The commandant of each district will recommend the appointments (or confirmation) of officers commanding the groups of their several districts, who shall be designated the Officer Commanding Group.

All district, group, and staff appointments shall from time to time be notified through general directions issued by the Dominion Commandant.

National Reserve officers will be granted honorary commissions in the National Reserve. The Dominion Commandant will rank as Colonel; district or subdistrict Commanders, and the commanders of the Railway Engineers and Post and Telegraph Sections, will rank as Lieutenant-Colonels; and the Volunteer Naval Reserve Commander will rank as Commander. All other officers will rank in accordance with Army procedure. National Reserve officers will take precedence next after Territorial officers in their respective ranks.

Duties of Officers.

8. The duties of the several officers appointed to the National Reserve shall be as laid down from time to time by the Commandant, such duties to conform to the Regulations for the Military Forces of New Zealand.

Appointments of Officers.

9. The Council hereby constituted is appointed a “Selection Board,” with power to confirm existing appointments in the Reserve, to frame a syllabus of subjects for the examination for such acting Reserve officers as may be required to pass before their ranks are confirmed. The Council will also lay down any necessary rules for the future appointments to honorary commissions throughout the Reserve, to be duly notified in General Directions.

SECTION 3.—GENERAL.

Obligations of Service in National Reserve.

10. All members of the National Reserve already enrolled shall be deemed to have made a military declaration of service, submitting during the continuance of membership, to the conditions of the King’s Regulations.

All members who may enroll in the future shall make a military declaration of service as above.

Arms and Uniforms.

11. The arming and uniforming of the National Reserve shall be specially dealt with by the National Reserve Council.

Regulations.

12. The general military organization, training, and administration of the National Reserve shall be strictly in conformity with the Regulations of the Military Forces of the Dominion which the Reserve is formed to support, and assist in all such directions as their services may be required, and shall, as a voluntary reserve, co-operate with the General Officer commanding the Forces, Defence officers commanding districts, Defence officers commanding coast defence, and Territorial officers.

J. F. ANDREWS,
Clerk of the Executive Council.