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of Inquiry dealing with a complaint or charge relating solely to the Permanent Militia, and that no Volunteer officer can sit on a court dealing with any charge or complaint relating solely to the Militia. Form of Summons. "I, A.B. [rank of officer convening the Court], do hereby summons you in terms of section eighty-four of ' The Defence Act, 1886,' to attend at at the hour of o'clock , to examine into the truth of certain charges to be preferred against of the "(Signed) 85. Penalty on officer refusing to attend Court of Inquiry. —lf any officer of the Forces, summoned as aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect to attend at such time and place as may be named in such summons for the meeting of the Court he shall render himself liable to have his commission cancelled ; subject, however, as follows : — (1.) Every member of any Court appointed under this Act to inquire into the conduct of an officer of the Forces shall be of equal or superior rank to the officer whose coiiduct is so to be inquired into, and one member at least shall be of superior rank. (2.) Every summons shall be delivered personally to the officer summoned at least twentyfour hours before the time appointed for the meeting of the Court. (3.) No officer may be compelled to attend as a member of any Court when the place of meeting is distant more than twenty miles from his usual place of residence. 86. Powers of Courts of Inquiry. —All Courts of officers as hereinbefore constituted shall have power and authority and are hereby required to administer an oath to every witness or other person who shall be examined before such Court in any matter relating to any proceeding before the same. (1.) Every witness who may be required to give or produce evidence before such Court shall be summoned by the convener thereof, and all witnesses or other persons so duly summoned who shall not attend such Court, or attending, shall refuse to be sworn or affirmed, or shall not produce the documents being under their power and control, required to be produced by them, or, being sworn or affirmed, shall refuse to give evidence or to answer all such questions as the Court may legally demand of them, shall be liable to the same pains and penalties as if such witness or other person had, after being duly summoned or subpoenaed, neglected to attend on a trial in any proceeding before a Resident Magistrate or two or more Justices of the Peace. (2.) Any person who shall give false evidence or take a false oath or affirmation and be thereof duly convicted shall be deemed guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, and shall be liable to such pains and penalties as persons convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury are or may be subject or liable to. 87. Charges against commissioned officer, how dealt with. —ln cases where charges or complaints are preferred against any commissioned officer of the Forces, such commissioned officer may be placed under arrest by the senior officer present, and such charges or complaints shall, with all convenient speed, be heard before a Court of officers convened and constituted as hereinbefore provided; but the duties of such Court shall be confined to taking evidence upon oath and reporting upon such evidence. Such report and evidence shall forthwith be forwarded by the President of the Court to the Commanding Officer, who shall submit the same for transmission to the Defence Minister for the decision of the Governor. 88. Bemuneration of officers composing Court.— All officers comprising a Court as hereinbefore constituted shall, if they are not at the time being in receipt of consecutive pay from Her Majesty's Government in the colony, be paid out of any moneys appropriated by the General Assembly for the general benefit of the Defence Force a remuneration of one guinea for each day or part of day during which they shall respectively sit as members of such Court; and all witnesses duly summoned by the convener of a Court of Inquiry shall be entitled to the same fees and privileges as if such witnesses had been duly summoned or subpoenaed to attend on a trial in any proceeding before the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Neio clauses. The convening officer may summons such witnesses as may be necessary for the due investigation of the complaint or charge, opportunity being given to the officer, non-commissioned officer, or man against whom the charge is preferred to require the summoning of any reasonable number of witnesses in his defence. Officers making a preliminary inquiry as regards any charge or complaint preferred against an officer, non-commissioned officer, or man of the Defence Forces cannot sit as either President or member of a Court of Inquiry into such charge or complaint. B. BEIGADES OB BATTALIONS. The Governor may form brigades or battalions of mounted corps or infantry in the various districts. Officers and Volunteers will be appointed and enrolled for particular corps and companies. All promotions will go in the various corps or companies of the brigades or battalions. 18S. The staff officers of any such battalion will be as under : — 1 Lieut.-colonel, who will be at battalion head-quarters, 1 major, 1 captain, as adjutant, 1 pay- and quarter-master, 2 medical officers, and 1 honorary chaplain. The staff officers of the Naval Brigade will be, — 1 Captain, with relative rank of lieut.-colonel, 1 commander, with relative rank of major, 1 gunnery lieutenant, 1 pay- and quarter-master, 2 medical officers, and 1 honorary chaplain.

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