JUNE 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1621

where ships are more or less permanently stationed, and the duties include visitation of the crews and the sick in hospital in addition to the conduct of Divine service, payment is to be based on the average number, taken quarterly, of officers and men of the particular denomination present at the port or headquarters on each Sunday morning during the period the ministrations are given. The numbers will be communicated by the Senior Officer to the minister on his requisition.

3. When it is necessary for the minister to hold a special service exclusively for the benefit of H.M. ships an allowance of 10s. for each such service may be paid in addition to the capitation allowance.

4. No allowance will be paid for any ministrations in respect of which application for payment is not made within a year of the service being rendered.

5. Religious services conducted by accredited representatives of the Salvation Army which are attended by men of the Fleet are to be recognized and paid for under the same conditions as those applicable to other denominations.

6. These allowances are applicable to clergymen of the Church of England officiating at ports where no Naval Chaplains are appointed.

7. The allowances are to be paid by the Accountant Officer with the approval of the Captain or of the Senior Officer, as the case may be. The amounts paid as capitation allowance are to accord strictly with the rates specified in para. 1, whether in respect of casual ministrations for short periods or on account of continuous attendance for a whole year. In cases of doubt reference is to be made to the Commodore, and, if necessary, to the Naval Board.

39. Training Service Fund.—A fixed sum shall be allotted annually by the Naval Board on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Training to meet such miscellaneous expenses, connected with the training of new entries, as are detailed in Article 229 of the Training Service Regulations, 1919.

2. The administration of this fund shall be under the Superintendent of Training, and the account, and the money belonging to it, in charge of the Accountant Officer of the Training Ship or Establishment. The latter officer is to render the reports and accounts connected therewith, as required by the Training Service Regulations, to the Superintendent of Training, who will be responsible for the quarterly audit thereof.

SECTION VI.—VICTUALLING, CLOTHING, ETC.

40. System of Messing.—Ships’ companies shall be victualled either on the standard-ration or general-mess system, as may be decided, taking into consideration the wishes of the men, the services on which the ship is employed, and the facilities existing for the adoption of the latter system.

2. The general-mess system shall be adopted for the victualling of boys under training.

3. In ships in which a general mess is formed, chief and other petty officers may have the option either of joining the general mess or of drawing the allowance in lieu. Whichever way the option is exercised it must be for not less than a full quarter.

41. Rates of Messing and Victualling Allowances.—The rate of messing-allowance payable in addition to the standard ration shall be 1s. per diem, subject to fluctuation.

2. Victualling-allowance shall be payable at the rate of 1s. 11d. per diem, likewise subject to fluctuation, as the cost of the ration on which this allowance is based varies.

42. General-mess Allowance.—The sum of 2s. per diem shall be allowed in respect of each person victualled on the general-mess system, and the Accountant Officer shall be responsible that the average value of rations issued shall not exceed the daily rate for the time being in force. No debit balance will, as a general rule, be admitted at the end of the quarter, except with the approval of the Commanding Officer, who will represent the full circumstances of the case to the Naval Board. In such cases every effort, consistent with the proper victualling of the ship’s company, is to be made in the following or succeeding quarters to eliminate any accumulated debt. Credits will similarly be carried forward from quarter to quarter.

43. Leave Allowance.—Leave allowance at the rate of provision allowance in force shall be credited in the ledger to officers and ratings when checked to leave for more than forty-eight hours, except that this allowance shall not be payable in respect of week-end leave from Friday to a.m. Monday.