3168
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 82

236. Issue of Civilian Suit.—In cases in which the King’s Regulations require a man’s kit to be sold on his dismissal or discharge from the Service other than by purchase, a civilian suit, the cost of which shall not exceed £3 10s., shall be issued to him prior to discharge.

237. The cost is to be charged against any credit standing to the man’s account, or issued gratuitously, or partly so, in the case of men in debt or without sufficient credit to meet the charge.

238. Tropical and White Uniform Clothing.—A gratuitous issue of three pairs of tropical shorts and three tropical singlets may be made to each permanent rating on first being drafted to a seagoing ship. This issue is to be made to loan ratings on their arrival on the station, provided that an issue at New Zealand Government expense has not already been made. Subsequent gratuitous issues may be made after three years’ actual service in a seagoing ship of the New Zealand Division, or in another ship in the tropics. Men who re-engage on loan for one year or less, or who have one year or less to serve to terminate their New Zealand engagements on completing three years’ actual service in a seagoing vessel, will not be entitled to the gratuitous issue.

239. This order applies to Royal Marine ranks, except that they may be provided with khaki drill shorts, instead of white shorts, at the discretion of the Commodore Commanding.

240. The additional articles of white uniform clothing permitted to be issued gratuitously on foreign stations, as shown in the Uniform Regulations for Chief Petty Officers, &c., may be issued gratuitously in the New Zealand Division under the same conditions of service as for the issue of tropical shorts and singlets.

241. Gratuitous issues are to be supported by a certified nominal list forwarded as an enclosure to the clothing account. The dates on which the clothing is received by the ratings are to be shown on the list together with details of the articles of clothing received.

242. The last dates of gratuitous issues of white uniform clothing and tropical clothing are to be noted in the “Remarks” column of the ledger respectively thus—“W.U.C. date”; “T.C. date”—the notations being carried forward from quarter to quarter and shown on the transfer list on discharge from ship to ship.

243. Where, in exceptional cases, the value of white uniform clothing is credited instead of an issue in kind, such credit is to appear in the ledger and is not to be made through the Cash Account. In all such cases a certificate is to accompany the ledger as an enclosure certifying that the men who have received credit have actually equipped themselves with the articles of white uniform clothing for which credit has been given.

244. Compensation for Losses of Uniform, &c.—Officers and men who, being on duty, may lose, in action with the enemy, by fire, by shipwreck, or by other casualty of the Service, any necessary articles of clothing or equipment, or any books, instruments, or tools used in connection with their duties, will be compensated for such loss, subject to a certificate being furnished that the following conditions have been fulfilled, viz.:

(a) That the claimants are acquitted of all blame as to the cause of the loss;

(b) That the loss occurred in circumstances altogether unavoidable by them;

(c) That it was not by neglect nor fault of the applicant; and

(d) That every exertion was used by them to prevent the loss.

2. No claim will be admitted for losses sustained when proceeding on or returning from leave of absence, nor for the loss of money or civilian clothing the property of individuals.

3. Claims are to be submitted within one month from the date of loss to the commanding officer, who will arrange for a thorough investigation and forward the claim, together with complete details, for the consideration of the Naval Board. It should be clearly indicated in this report whether the loss is considered to be due to default by the officer or rating himself, or by any other person serving on board at the time the loss occurred.

4. In the case of the loss of uniform clothing and tools by chief petty officers, petty officers, and men, any absolutely necessary articles may be issued immediately with the approval of the commanding officer, and value charged on the ship’s ledger against the ratings to whom the issues are made. These charges need not, however, be actually abated from pay pending the result of the investigation, and may be carried forward, if necessary, to subsequent ledgers as debts until the decision of the Naval Board is communicated.

5. The amount of compensation will be determined in each case by the Naval Board, who, in giving a decision, will be guided generally by the provisions of Article 1697, and Appendix IX of King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

6. Unless otherwise approved, amounts awarded as compensation are to be credited to officers and men concerned in the ship’s ledger in “Other Credits” column.