Dec. 3.]

237. Cancel paragraphs 1, 2, and 3, and substitute:

238. Tropical and White Uniform Clothing.—A gratuitous issue of three tropical singlets may be made to each permanent rating on first being drafted to a seagoing ship. A similar issue may be made to loan ratings on their arrival in a seagoing ship of the New Zealand Division, provided that an issue at New Zealand Government expense has not already been made. Subsequent gratuitous issues of tropical singlets may be made on the same scale after three years actual service in a seagoing ship of the New Zealand Division, or in another ship employed in the tropics. Loan ratings who re-engage on loan for one year or less and New Zealand ratings (Article 50 (ii)), who have one year or less to serve, before the termination of their engagements on completing three years' actual service in a seagoing vessel will not be entitled to a gratuitous issue.

239. Tropical shorts are not included in the gratuitous issue of tropical clothing to Naval ratings in the New Zealand Division.

240. The gratuitous issue of tropical singlets is also applicable to Royal Marine ranks and, in addition, an issue of three pairs of Khaki drill shorts may be made under similar conditions.

241. 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 New Zealand under the same conditions of service as for the issue of tropical singlets.

Present paragraphs 4, 5, and 6, to be renumbered 5, 6, and 7.

CHAPTER XI.—PASSAGES.

Article 260 : Cancel present article, and substitute:

260. Passages of Royal Naval Officers and their Families.—Imperial officers lent for service with the New Zealand Division will be granted a free passage to and from New Zealand, unless proceeding by ship-of-war, except as provided for in paragraph 4. Flag officers and Commodores are entitled to reserved accommodation (i.e., a single-berth cabin, or the exclusive use of a two-berth cabin) in accordance with the King's Regulations and Admiralty Institutions, Article 834. All other officers will be provided with ordinary first-class accommodation. In the event of a Flag officer or Commodore being accompanied by his wife the two-berth cabin authorized for the use of such officer shall be used also by his wife, and no additional provision for her accommodation will be made.

261. The New Zealand Government offer free return passages England to New Zealand to the wives and families of officers loaned to the New Zealand Division, subject to the following provisions:

(a) The officer must be loaned for a period of not less than three years. (Note.—In the case of Captains, R.N., whom the Admiralty are unable to loan for more than two years passages will be granted to wives and families notwithstanding the three-year minimum.)

(b) The officer must be of the rank of Lieutenant-Commander or above at the date of loan or if below Lieutenant-Commander's rank must be definitely appointed to a shore appointment for the full period of loan. For this purpose definite appointments to Navy Office or to H.M.S. “Philomel” shall be regarded as shore appointments. Subsequent transfer from a seagoing to a shore appointment shall not entitle an officer to free passages for wife and family.

(c) Where wives and families of officers are eligible for passages at Government expense under the above conditions the free passage will not be granted other than in very exceptional circumstances (such as severe illness on the part of the officer's wife or his children) unless the wife and family leave England within three months of the date of departure from England of the officer.

(d) Passages under the above conditions will be granted only on the understanding that it is the intention of the officer's wife and family to remain in New Zealand during the full period of loan of the officer.

3. Officers travelling overseas on duty in such special cases as may be approved by the Naval Board may receive the passage-money and be allowed to make their own arrangements for passage, provided that, except where otherwise approved, such officers shall travel by the