Dec. 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3179

CHAPTER XIV.—STORES.

340. Supplies under Contract.—Where Government contracts of any kind exist, purchases of articles under contract must be made from such contractors. Should exceptional circumstances justify any departure from this rule a detailed statement approved by the Commanding Officer is to accompany the purchase voucher, showing the reasons.

341. When no contracts are in force, or stores cannot be obtained on demand or requisition as provided for in the previous paragraph, the Accountant officer is, where possible, to obtain three quotations, and in placing orders for supplies, or accepting a contract for a definite period, the lowest tender should be accepted, unless for special reasons approved by the Commanding Officer. A copy of the accepted tender is invariably to be forwarded to Navy Office.

342. Demands for Stores generally.—Stores, other than clothing and victualling stores, required by H.M. ships of the New Zealand Division and the R.F.A. “Nucula,” should be demanded from the Base Stores Officer at Devonport, who will maintain stocks as necessary. Stores of particular Admiralty pattern or mark, or unprocurable in New Zealand, are to be demanded by the Base Stores Officer from the Admiralty, through the Navy Office, Wellington, and High Commissioner for New Zealand. Base Stores Officer will requisition from the appropriate purchasing department operating under the Stores Control Board for other stores.

343. Clothing, mess-traps and implements, rum, chocolate, and tobacco should be demanded from the Accountant Officer, H.M.S. “Philomel,” who will through the Navy Office maintain necessary stocks by demand on Home yards, or by local purchase through Stores Control Board. In the case of mess-traps, except for a small reserve of officers mess-traps, stocks will not be maintained on the Station. Requisitions from ships should be forwarded through the Accountant Officer, H.M.S. “Philomel,” who will forward them, through the usual channels, in sufficient time to admit of their being on the Station when required for use.

344. Victualling-stores should be obtained as laid down in the New Zealand Station Order Book.

345. Ships in Australian waters may obtain stores required from Sydney Yard, but considerable discretion should be exercised in view of the high cost of the various items, particularly clothing. The Base Stores Officer and Accountant Officer, “Philomel,” may also obtain stores from Sydney under similar circumstances, and in such case a notation should be made on demands that the stores should be shipped to New Zealand by vessels owned in the Dominion. The Base Stores Officer and Accountant Officer, “Philomel,” will maintain approximately nine months’ reserve of stores, but this period is not to be strictly adhered to in the case of stores likely to deteriorate—e.g., manufactured tobacco, &c. Special instructions as to supplies of stores to Imperial ships, other Government services, &c., will be issued by Navy Order from time to time.

346. All demands on Home yards for stores, mess-traps, &c., except those from ships in England, are to be forwarded to Navy Office, where they will be assigned a “demand number” and transmitted to the High Commissioner for action. Ships in England may forward demands to the High Commissioner direct. Eight copies of the demand notes for naval stores are to be forwarded, four copies in the case of demand notes for Royal Marine clothing, and three copies in the case of all other stores.

347. Demands are to be carefully prepared, items not on the authorized list of stores being fully described and supplemented by a sample where necessary. Considerable delay is likely to occur if the above procedure is not carried out.

348. When articles are sent to England for repair, full particulars are to be forwarded to Navy Office for information of the High Commissioner, who will be instructed as to the nature of the repairs required, and given authority for such repairs to be executed. No repairs of any description will be undertaken in England except with the express consent of the New Zealand Government through the High Commissioner.

349. When empty cases and other stores are returned to England full details are to be included in the quarterly return referred to in New Zealand Regulations, Article 344, in order that their value may be recovered from the Admiralty.

350. Stores ex Freight-ship, &c.—When taking delivery of stores forwarded by freight ship great care is to be taken in the examination of packages containing valuable stores and of all such as appear to have been tampered with, in order that any discrepancies or damages may be detected before receipts are given to the shipping company. This examination should invariably take place in the presence of an approved agent of the company before delivery is taken.