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18 1954

DEFENCE ACT, 1954

Chapter VI.

Miscellaneous Provisions.

Redress of wrongs.

114. —(1) If an officer thinks himself wronged in any matter by any superior or other officer, including his commanding officer, he may complain thereof to his commanding officer and if, but only if, his commanding officer does not deal with the complaint to such officer's satisfaction, he may complain in the prescribed manner to the Minister who shall inquire into the complaint and give his directions thereon.

(2) If any man thinks himself wronged in any matter by any officer, other than his company commander, or by any man he may complain thereof to his company commander, and if he thinks himself wronged by his company commander either in respect of his complaint not being redressed or in respect of any other matter, he may complain thereof to his commanding officer, and if he thinks himself wronged by his commanding officer, either in respect of his complaint not being redressed or in respect of any other matter, he may complain thereof in the prescribed manner to the Adjutant-General, who, if so required by the man, shall report on the matter of the complaint to the Minister who shall inquire into the complaint and give his directions thereon.

(3) Every officer to whom a complaint is made in pursuance of this section shall cause such complaint to be inquired into, and shall, if on inquiry he is satisfied of the justice of the complaint so made, take such steps as may be necessary for giving full redress to the complainant in respect of the matter complained of, and shall in every case inform the complainant in the prescribed manner as to what action has been taken in respect of the matter complained of.

(4) The Minister shall make regulations providing for the personal submission, by any person subject to this Act, of any grievance to such officer and on such occasions as may be prescribed by such regulations.

Collection and distribution of certain property of deceased members of the Defence Forces.

115. —(1) In this section, the expression “service estate” means in relation to a deceased member of the Defence Forces—

(a) pay, allowances, gratuities or grants due to him,

(b) personal equipment which he is under regulations permitted to retain,

(c) personal belongings, including money, found on him or in barracks, camp or quarters or otherwise in the care or custody of the Defence Forces.

(2) The service estate of a deceased member of the Permanent Defence Force or of an officer of the Reserve Defence Force who dies while employed on military service or duty during a period during which a proclamation authorising the calling out of reservists on permanent service is in force or during a period during which reservists are called out on permanent service under section 88 or of a man of the Reserve Defence Force who dies while called out on permanent service may be collected, administered and distributed in accordance with regulations made by the Minister.

Disposal of personal belongings of deserter, absentee or person of unsound mind.

116. —The personal belongings and decorations of a member of the Defence Forces who is a deserter or is absent without leave for twenty-one days or who becomes of unsound mind which are found in barracks, camp or quarters or otherwise in the care or custody of the Defence Forces shall be disposed of in accordance with regulations made by the Minister.

Regulations for purposes of Part IV.

117. —The Minister may make regulations in relation to all or any of the following—

(a) the assignment, whether by appointment, transfer or otherwise, of members of the Defence Forces to or within service corps, staffs, units or other elements of the Defence Forces,

(b) the manner in which recruits are to be appointed to service corps,

(c) the transfer of a man from one service corps to another,

(d) any person, matter or thing referred to in this Part as prescribed,

(e) any other matter or thing which is referred to in this Part as the subject of regulations and in respect of which express power is not conferred on the Minister to make regulations.