HOME DEFENCE FORCES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23976, 17 June 1943, Page 4

HOME DEFENCE FORCES

SURPLUS OFFICERS AND N.C.O.’S OVERSEAS SERVICE IN LOWER RANKS From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 16. The difficult problem regarding the disposal of officers and non-commis-sioned officers rendered surplus to present requirements by the reduction in the mobilised strength of the home defence forces was referred to to-night by the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, Lieutenant-General E. Puttick. “On mobilisation of the Army for home defence, the forces were expanded approximately three times,” said General Puttick. “This necessitated the promotion of large numbers to commissioned and non-commissioned rank. As the danger of a serious attack on New Zealand receded, it was possible to reduce the state of readiness and the mobilised strength of these forces until ultimately the strength will be reduced to somewhere near its 1941 level, while maintaining the ability to expand rapidly to the maximum. “This reduction naturally results in a large surplus of officers and n.c.o.’s. Many of these are of overseas category, and are both liable and entitled to consideration for overseas service. Obviously this large body, running into many hundreds, cannot be absorbed in the overseas forces, which, by agreement, receive only a very limited number of officers and n.c.o.’s from New Zealand, so that the men serving in those forces may receive major consideration for promotion.” General Puttick said the question arose as to what was to be done with these men. The Air Force could take a certain number. A few would be required from time to time as reinforcements 'for overseas; but the majority could not be absorbed. They could not be retained in New Zealand against the possibility that their services would be required in an emergency, especially as for every officer and n.c.o. so retained a married man approaching 40 years of age, and with children, would have to be sent overseas in his place. No Option There was, therefore, no option but to send such officers and n.c.o.’s overseas as n.c.o.’s and in the ranks, as had been done in the last war with territorial officers and n.c.o.’s for whom places in those ranks could not be found in the Expeditionary Force, If a home defence crisis again occurred a similar expansion to that of early 1942 would take place, and once again a large number of additional officers and n.c.o.’s would be required. They would, however, be much easier to find than was the ease previously, because of the larger field of trained and semi-trained men now available. “The somewhat invidious position in which the officers and n.c.o.’s concerned are now placed is very much regretted,” said General Puttick; "but there is no escape from the situation. It is important that the general public should understand that no stigma of any kind attaches to any officer or n.c.o. who has to relinquish his rank; but that on the contrary the Army and New Zealand generally are indebted to these leaders for their able work during a trying period of tension. The superior training and experience of those proceeding overseas in lower ranks than they held in New Zealand should place them In a good position for early promotion once they have gained the necessary experi enc e. ’