Aug. 10.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2621

rity, and on a transfer they will be handed over to the relieving
officer or accountant.

23. The following will perform the duties of barrack account-
    ants and accountants for expense stores as herein laid down :—

In permanent camps ... Q.M.-Sergeant.
Annual camps—
In units ... Unit Q.M.-Sergeant.
In groups ... Sub-area Sergeant-major.
In District Headquarters Senior Clerk.
In Headquarters ... Chief Clerk.
In detachments, R.N.Z.A. Ledger-keepers.
In F.A. Batteries ... Ledger-keepers.

General Regulations.

24.Officers in charge of barracks will not be accountants for
expense stores, fuel, light, &c., but will be responsible for the proper
conduct of all the duties in connection with the receipt, custody,
issue, and accounts of water, disinfectants, cleaning-articles, furni-
ture, barrack, detention-barrack, and other stores required for the
use of the troops in the barracks, hospitals, drill-halls, offices, and
standing camps in their respective districts.

25. Officers in charge of barracks will frequently take stock
    of the most important items of expense stores. For this purpose
    the number of the particular articles found in store, on inventory,
    at the wash or repair, &c., will be noted, and the whole totalled and
    compared with the total ledger charge. Discrepancies will be
    adjusted in accordance with the regulations. A record of each of
    these stock-takings will be kept.

26. Subordinates of the Defence Forces will be the accountants
    for expense stores. Officers in charge of barracks will at all times
    give these accountants advice and assistance in the performance of
    their duties; they will see that all services are satisfactorily carried
    out, and that accountants and others are thoroughly acquainted
    with the regulations. Accountants will render monthly to officers
    in charge of barracks the certificate shown in Appendix 1.

27. Officers in charge of barracks will audit all accounts
    rendered by subordinates, and will carefully examine and certify
    them before submitting them to the Assistant Director-of Equipment
    and Ordnance Stores for transmission to the Director of Equipment
    and Ordnance Stores.

28. Officers in charge of barracks will examine (not less fre-
    quently than once in each six months) the books and records kept
    by accountants, and will, on the occasion of the examination, make
    an entry in each book or record in red ink to the effect that this has
    been done. These entries will be signed and dated.

29. If an accountant is suspected of any irregularities in con-
    nection with his charge he should be suspended from duty, and an
    immediate stock will be taken in order to ascertain whether there
    are any deficiencies.

30. Every facility will be given to a subordinate to become
    fully acquainted with the details of his work.

31. Expense-store accountants will make themselves acquainted
    with the number, condition, and use of every article in their stores.
    They will keep their storerooms clean, properly aired, and arranged.
    Where there is no labourer the accountant will perform these duties
    himself.

32. Accountants will make all issues and exchanges strictly in
    accordance with the regulations, and will, in case of any difficulty
    in connection with these duties, apply to the officer in charge of
    barracks for instructions.

Charge and Allotment of Barracks.

33. The custody of barracks, and the duty of handing over the
    requisite accommodation to the troops, will rest with the officer in
    charge of barracks.

34. The responsibility for the maintenance of the fabric of the
    buildings, for their repair and for any structural alterations, will
    rest with the Barrack Construction Department. Quarters will be
    allotted in accordance with the King's Regulations (para. 1049).

35. Whenever it is known that a barrack is about to be vacated
    for a period of over six months the G.O.C. will issue instructions for
    it to be dismantled, all furniture, &c., being removed from the
    barrack-rooms, quarters, and other accessories, to barrack stores.
    Should there not be sufficient storage accommodation available,
    any additional storage necessary will be met by the temporary mis-
    appropriation of other rooms (see also Regulations for Engineer
    Services, Part I).

Barracks and quarters when dismantled will be in the custody
of the B.C.D., but unoccupied barracks and quarters, when not
dismantled of furniture and stores, will be in the custody of the
officer in charge of barracks. Reappropriation will be dealt with as
directed in the King's Regulations (paras. 1035 and 1042).

36. Before a barrack is occupied, the time when the troops will
    arrive and the number of troops for which accommodation is required
    will be notified to the officer in charge of barracks by the C.C.; in
    places other than camps by the O.C. troops for whom accommoda-
    tion

37. When any change of troops is to take place in a barrack the
    officer in charge of barracks will arrange with the officer commanding
    the troops in occupation as to the most convenient time and manner
    for taking over the stores in his charge, having regard, in the event
    of a relieving corps being expected, to the time fixed for the arrival
    of the officer nominated to take over charge. It is desirable when
    one corps relieves another that the taking-over from the one and the
    giving-over to the other should be simultaneous, the officers nomi-
    nated on behalf of each corps and the officer in charge of barracks
    being present.

38. The officer in charge of barracks, or his representative, will
    assign the regulated barrack accommodation to the officer detailed
    to take over on the part of the incoming troops, and will give over,
    on a signed inventory for each room and building. the necessary
    barrack furniture and utensils in accordance with the Regulations
    and instructions hereinafter laid down. He will also receive over
    all buildings and quarters with their equipment at marching-out
    inspections or when no longer required for occupation.

39. All available quarters and accessories will be kept in good
    order, properly aired, and ready for occupation at short notice.

40. Barracks and quarters will be occupied according to their
    authorized appropriation, and any irregular occupation of or altera-
    tion in barrack buildings will be brought to the notice of the O.C.
    with a view to the irregularity being stopped.

41. In exceptional circumstances, and as a temporary measure,
    G.O.C. may sanction the use of spare accommodation for army
    purposes by persons not ordinarily entitled to such accommodation,
    provided that no expense or loss to the public is involved. Such
    sanction should not be given when any rent or other revenue can be
    obtained for the accommodation.

42. Officers in charge of barracks will not be responsible for the
    following buildings : Electric-light buildings (other than quarters,
    class-rooms, and offices) which come under the charge of the B.C.D.

43. Officers may be permitted to store motor or other vehicles
    when suitable accommodation is temporarily available in equipped
    barracks at a uniform charge of 5s. per month per vehicle. Such
    accommodation, however, is subject to the following conditions:—
    (1.) Vehicles to be stored at the sole risk of owners.
    (2.) Buildings to be kept clean, and any damage done thereto
    by occupiers or their employees to be made good.
    (3.) Accommodation to be vacated at any time if required for
    military purposes.
    The arrangements will be made by the officer in charge of barracks.

44. New buildings, when completed and reported on by a Board
    of officers as fit for occupation, will be taken over by the officer in
    charge of barracks upon the receipt of the necessary authority, and
    will be equipped as required for occupation.

45. If any new buildings should require drying before they are
    considered fit for occupation the officer in charge of barracks will
    defer taking them over until they are sufficiently dry for use, and
    such fuel as may be necessary for drying the buildings will be
    demanded by the officer or official who supervises the building
    operations.

46. New accommodation will be brought on the returns of
    barrack accommodation as soon as handed over for use, and the
    authority for such handing-over being quoted on the returns.

47. All alterations in the appropriation of barracks will be
    noted on the returns as soon as the necessary authority is received.

48. When buildings are completed and handed over, the officer
    in charge of barracks will sign for the inventory of fixtures, and will,
    so long as the building remains in his charge unoccupied, be respon-
    sible for the safe custody of the fixtures contained therein.

49. Whenever barrack accommodation may be required to be
    handed over for the execution of works or repair, the officer in
    charge of barracks will be referred to with reference to the quartering
    of troops to be displaced. When the proposed arrangements for
    vacating the premises have been approved by the G.O.C. the officer
    or official concerned will furnish the officer in charge of barracks
    with a return of the accommodation required by him. The officer
    in charge of barracks will then dismantle and hand over the buildings.

50. When only a very limited amount of barrack accommoda-
    tion is so required, and no expense to the public for lodging-money
    or hiring is involved, the officer in charge of barracks and the officer
    or official concerned can make the necessary arrangements with the
    corps, department, or officer in occupation. When a reappropria-
    tion is involved the accommodation will not be handed over for
    structural alteration until the necessary approval to the reappro-
    priation has been obtained.

Gas-supply.

51. Whenever any escape of gas is detected the occupant will
    immediately inform the gas company, and request that the defect
    be remedied at once.

52. lf at any time there is an excessive consumption of gas,
    suspected to be due to improper use or to escape which cannot be
    localized, the officer in charge of barracks will at once call for a report
    from the accountant as to the cause thereof.

Electric Lighting.

The regulations governing lighting by gas will be applicable
generally to electric lighting.

53. Where electric light is in use in buildings which are on
    charge, the officer in charge of barracks will exercise the same
    careful supervision over the consumption of electric current as in