ROYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2442, 22 April 1915, Page 7

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY

(FORMATION OF ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS SECTION. ' General orders, dated April 1, which lave just come to hand, ohroniele the approval of the formation of an Army Ordnance Corps Section, under the following conditions: — "(1) Establishment—One N.C.Q. (Bombardier) and sis gunners, under the supervision of a master gunner, to be stationed at 'Wellington, and supplement tal to the present establishment of the R.N.Z.A.

. "(2) Pay and Discipline.—The O.C. R.N.Z.A. "will be responsible for pay and discipline..

Duty.—The members of the Section will be non?coinbatants, and will be employed wholly on their own special work. They will not he detailed for any other duty or work whatsover,

"(4) Service.—Retention in the section will be soibjeot to efficiency, industry, and good conduct. "(o) Method of Selection. —Appoint-, ments to this section will be made from mature and experienced N.C.O.'s now serving. N.C.O.'s of the R.N.Z.A. applying for promotion to this section must clearly understand that, if selected, they will be required to revert to the rank of gunner, unless there is a vacancy for a non-commissioned officer, in which event their cases will receive special consideration. N.C.O.'s . appointed to the section as gunners will not be required to pass a "period of probation, and will be immediately placed on the higher rate of pay. If sufficient suitable applicants from the R.N.Z.A. are not forthcoming, time-expired artillerymen (either ex-R.N.Z.A. or ex-R.A.) will be enlisted. Preference will be given to applicants from the R.N.Z.A. who are approaching the retiring age of fifty-five years, and who are recommended bv their commandine officers. "(6) Retiring Age.—The retiring age will be sixty years.

"(7) Allowances.—Members of the section', will be entitled to the same allowances', as are granted to all other members of the R.N.Z.A. of equal rank. "(8) Promotion.—When a vacancy occurs, promotion to N.C.O. rank wiil be by selection. With the present establishment, there will be no promotion above the rank of bombardier.

"(9) Rates of Pay.—N.C.O., lis. per diem' for seven days per week. Gunners! While on probation, 9s. 3d. per diem for seven days per week. After completing six months' probation, if reported upon as thoroughly efficient by the master gunner, the pay will bo increased, on the authority of the officer commanding R.N.Z.A!, to 10s. per diem. "(10) Working Pay.—Working pay at th# rate of 9s. per diem for seven days per week will be allowed the duty master gunner for superintending the work of the seotion in addition to his other duties.

"(11) Proficiency and Good-conduct Pay.—Members of the' section will not receive proficiency or good-conduct pay. "(12) Location.—The section will for the-present be stationed at Wellington only."