82 
OFFICE WORK OF A GARRISON BATTERY, 
particular loss or injury. For example, lie must prove tliat the store was 
properly attended by day; that no unauthorized person was allowed to 
enter it alone ; that it was properly closed and guarded by night; that 
no matches, oil rags, or inflammable articles have been left in it; that 
the gold lace has been kept in a tin box and frequently exposed to light; 
that, if a barrack room is above the store, care has been taken to prevent 
the men swamping the floor above with water that may run through; that 
the cloth garments have been kept with camphor and pepper, and in 
boxes secure from mice or rats, and occasionally exposed and cleaned; 
that the boots have been looked after (see A.C. 66 of 1875, article 2, 
and 207 of 1878); and that all old clothing has been carefully searched 
for matches and vermin before being placed in store, etc., etc. If the 
Court report in his favour, recommending that the expense be borne by 
the public, and if their report is approved, then the Major may escape 
the charge. It is a new pecuniary responsibility thrown on him since 
the amount of his contingent allowance was settled, without any addition 
being made to the allowance, and often without the provision of a 
proper store. 
Once, however, the clothing is issued to the men, the Major is exempt 
from all direct pecuniary responsibility. If a man destroys or loses his 
tunic the day after its issue, the man makes good the value, or if the 
charge cannot be recovered from the man on account of his desertion, 
imprisonment, etc., the loss falls on the public, as the Major has only 
to credit the amount actually recovered. The declaration of the Court 
of Inquiry on a deserter’s deficiency of clothing, W.O. Form 875, or the 
extract of the Court Martial on a man deficient of clothing, or his crime if 
his trial is dispensed with, are all sufficient vouchers for striking clothing 
off charge. Indirectly, the Major is still pecuniarily responsible for the 
clothing after issue, as long as it is actually in possession of the men, as 
he has to see that it is kept up in proper order; and he is practically 
responsible for any debts of the men so incurred. Thus it is im¬ 
portant for the Mai or to see that the clothing is kept up in proper state 
—no easy matter when he has men employed with orders not to go to 
any parade during the year. 
Necessaries are nominally considered in the same manner, but there 
is an important practical difference. For example, a recruit gets a free 
kitt, deserts with it, and is no more heard of. FI ere the extract from the 
Court of Inquiry clears the Major completely. If, however, such a man 
rejoins, is tried, and, after his imprisonment, again serves, he must be 
again clothed and kitted; and, if he again deserts with everything, the 
second issue of clothing is written off, but the issue of necessaries has to 
be paid for, nominally out of his estate, but practically, as he has nothing, 
by the Major. Even if such a man is eventually caught, and has to serve, 
the debt is so large that its final recovery is very doubtful. If he is 
discharged the debt is of course all lost. The recovery of the value of 
a free kitt obtained by fraudulent enlistment, is, however, carried out by 
a regular stoppage from his pay, only the amount recovered being 
credited. 
