Dec; 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3173

291. Subsistence Allowance.—The following are the rates at which subsistence allowance is payable when travelling on duty :—

2. Subsistence allowance is payable only up to a maximum period of fourteen days, except in such special cases as may be approved by the Naval Board. Officers and men travelling on duty involving a longer absence than fourteen days shall, at the end of that period, draw the rates of lodging and provision allowances specified in these regulations in lieu of subsistence allowances. When, however, a person in receipt of subsistence allowance is travelling from place to place the allowance may be continued throughout the period of absence from his ship or permanent place of duty, except when the stay at any one place exceeds fourteen days.

3. Subsistence allowance is not payable concurrently with lodging and provision allowances unless the absence does not exceed fourteen days and the person concerned returns to the same permanent quarters as he previously occupied before leaving on detached duty. In such cases provision allowance only is to cease during the period that subsistence allowance is payable.

4. The above rates of subsistence allowances are exclusive of any cost of conveyance by rail, coach, or steamer; and in computing the period of absence on duty the time shall be counted from the hour of leaving ship or other place of duty to the hour of return. Subsistence allowance shall not, however, be payable when travelling by steamer or other vessel in which quarters and rations are provided. (NOTE.—Travelling between North and South Islands: In view of the fact that persons travelling by the ferries are required to provide themselves with meals at the commencement and termination of the journey, and that, except in very special circumstances, no food is obtainable on board, continuous subsistence allowance should be paid.)

5. When it is proved to the satisfaction of the Naval Board that the rates of subsistence allowances payable do not cover the actual expenses incurred, the Board may recommend payment of an increased rate; or the Board may reduce the rates laid down when circumstances appear to justify such a course.

6. Officers in receipt of victualling-allowance detached for duty on shore or in other ships for periods of less than six hours will be paid an allowance of 1s. 6d. per meal; petty officers and men, 1s. per meal. Such payment must be supported by a certificate that absence was necessary during the prescribed meal-hours.

7. Officers temporarily loaned to other ships for periods exceeding six but under forty-eight hours, who are required to continue their mess subscription in their own ships in their absence, may receive an allowance of 3s. per day, or 1s. 6d. a meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for broken periods. In the case of officers and men absent over forty-eight hours, messing and victualling allowances shall cease so long as subsistence allowance continues to be payable.

8. In dealing with claims for subsistence, fractions of an hour of less than half an hour should be disregarded; fractions of an hour of half an hour or more should be reckoned as one hour. Where a return journey is made—e.g., ratings joining ships for training—the time taken on both journeys is to be computed as for one journey for the purpose of this paragraph.

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