3394
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 133

161. Candidates for Masters’ Certificates to produce Evidence of Nationality.—During the war no man may be examined for a certificate of competency as master, extra master, or master home trade, unless (a) he is a British subject, and (b) at the time of his birth each of his parents was a British subject by birth or by naturalization.

In order to prove that he complies with these conditions every candidate for any of the certificates named must produce to the Examiner his own birth-certificate and the birth-certificate or certificate of naturalization of each of his parents, or such other evidence of nationality as the Minister of Marine may consider satisfactory. These documents should be lodged with the Examiner at least a week before the day on which the candidate wishes to present himself for examination.

This requirement does not apply to any officer who has been granted a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve since March, 1911, or in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve since February, 1916.

If in any case there is any doubt whether the candidate complies with the above requirements the local Examiner will refer the matter to the Principal Examiner.

162. First-aid Certificates.—A first-aid certificate which, though otherwise valid, is more than three years old will be accepted during the war if the holder has been prevented from renewing it by reason of the exigencies of the war service.

163. Service under the Admiralty.—During the war all service afloat in His Majesty’s ships, or in auxiliary supply-ships, or any other ships in attendance on the Fleet will be accepted in full (subject to the ordinary conditions as laid down in these regulations) as qualifying sea service for the purpose of the Marine Department’s examinations of masters and mates.

The Marine Department cannot undertake to accept the whole or any definite proportion of service in the Royal Naval Reserve which is not qualifying-service in accordance with the regulations, but they will be prepared to consider sympathetically an application for examination from a candidate who has been prevented by his service in the Royal Naval Reserve from complying fully with the requirements of these regulations. This may be taken as applying, e.g., to service with a first or second mate’s certificate, but in a rank below that of acting sub-lieutenant.

164. Service in the Royal Naval Reserve: Antedating Certificates.—The Board of Trade have been in communication with the Admiralty with regard to the case of men serving in the Royal Naval Reserve during the war who are prevented by the exigencies of the service from presenting themselves for examination on completion of the period of qualifying-service required by the Board’s regulations. Arrangements have been made whereby, if such a person passes the examination for a certificate of competency at a time not remote from the conclusion of hostilities, he may have his certificate antedated to the date on which the period of qualifying-service was completed; and service performed after that date, if eligible, will be accepted as qualifying for a higher certificate. No certificate, however, will be antedated to a date prior to that on which the candidate was called out for active service.

165. Service in Transports: Antedating Certificates.—The arrangements indicated in para. 164 may be extended on certain conditions to men serving in vessels under Admiralty orders who are not in the Royal Naval Reserve. Such persons, on applying for their certificates to be antedated, will be required to produce a certificate, signed or countersigned by the proper authority, showing that they were prevented by the exigencies of the service from presenting themselves for examination on completion of the period of qualifying-service required by the Board’s regulations.

For the purposes of the regulations the proper authority will be—

(a.) In the case of men serving in His Majesty’s commissioned ships, the Commanding Officer:

(b.) In the case of men serving on requisitioned ship or ships employed on Admiralty service, the Director of Transports and Shipping:

(c.) In the case of men serving on ships employed in the service of the Government of India, the Director of the Royal Indian Marine in Bombay and the Captain Superintendent of the Government Dockyard at Kidderpore, Bengal.