3368
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 133

forward a certified copy of the lost certificate for delivery to the applicant. No fee will be charged if the applicant can prove that the certificate was lost through shipwreck or fire.

FIRST AID TO THE INJURED.

26. First Aid to the Injured.—(1.) Every candidate for a certificate of competency of any grade will be required to produce a certificate issued by the St. John’s Ambulance Association, the St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association, the St. Patrick’s Ambulance Association, the British Red Cross Society, the Glamorgan County Council, the Leith Technical College, the London County Council, or other approved body, or by a medical officer of one of His Majesty’s ships, to the effect that he has passed examination in first aid to the injured.

(2.) The certificate must be an adult certificate—i.e., obtained by the candidate when sixteen years of age or more—and (except in the circumstances indicated in para. 162) the examination for it must have been passed not more than three years before the date of the examination for the certificate of competency. Certificates issued by the St. John’s Ambulance Association more than three years before the examination for a certificate of competency will, however, be accepted, provided that at the expiration of three years since its issue the certificate has attached to it the “voucher” or “label” of the association certifying that the holder has passed re-examination in first aid.

(3.) If a candidate does not possess such a certificate of proficiency in first aid he should apply, some time before he wishes to sit for examination for a certificate as master or mate, to the local secretary of one of the approved associations, who will inform him of the available facilities for the instruction and examination of candidates in first aid.

(4.) Besides the courses of instruction which are provided on shore at the ports at which examinations for certificates as master and mate are held in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, &c., courses of instruction given by qualified surgeons on board merchant vessels will be accepted by the St. John’s Ambulance Association as qualifying the candidate for examination for their certificate of proficiency in first aid, provided the surgeon certifies that he has followed the syllabus of instruction laid down by the association.

(5.) The St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association will also accept instruction by a ship’s surgeon on board ship as qualifying a candidate for examination for their certificate of proficiency in first aid, provided their syllabus is followed. In this case the candidate must previously have enrolled, and obtained an attendance card, by applying to the local secretary of the association or to the head office at 176 West Regent Street, Glasgow.

(6.) It will not be necessary for the candidate for a certificate as master or mate in all cases to produce the formal certificate of proficiency in first aid issued by the associations. In order to prevent delay in proceeding with the examination for the certificate as master or mate, and in the issue of the certificate to successful candidates, the special mercantile marine linen certificate issued by the St. John’s Ambulance Association and duly signed by the lecturer, the surgeon examiner, and the association’s local representative, or, in Scotland, a certificate signed by the local examiner of the St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association, to the effect that the candidate has passed the examination for a certificate of proficiency, may be accepted as showing that the candidate possesses the required knowledge of first aid.

SIGHT-TESTS.

27. (a.) Sight-tests.—Every candidate for a certificate of competency must pass the prescribed sight-tests before a certificate can be issued to him. If circumstances render it necessary for him to proceed with the examination in navigation and seamanship before undergoing the sight-tests, he should be informed that the examination in navigation and seamanship will be cancelled in the event of his failure to pass either of the sight-tests.

(b.) Form-vision Test.—Every candidate for a certificate must pass the form-vision test. If he obtained a certificate of competency before the 1st June, 1914, he will only be required to possess half normal vision using both eyes together. Otherwise he must pass a higher standard—viz., normal vision using both eyes or either eye separately.