SELECTION OF ADJUTANTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 5

SELECTION OF ADJUTANTS.

NATURE OP;,THE TESTS. , v ; : Y 'Replying, in the House of. Represehta- ■ ives, yesterday .to a,question;put by Mri .. 'Allen wim reference to; the 'selection'of ■'■ adjutants under the new, defence scheme, , : the -Prime Minister;as' Minister, for. De- ■■■'■ fence stated:—:.. (1) A "Selection 'Board,/consisting', of the ; officer, commanding the district,"assistant ; adjutant-general,-and.a;permanent force' officer;(all permanent officers),, has :been '"v..- Est up in each .district .to! conduct the ... preliminary.test required./..:: '•;.'■. ; (2) .No 'definite..standard, has. been; set , v ..out'.by, Iheadquarters: District" command- .- '■;'■■.'ers ;were, instructed, to■: put ' applicants' : ;'•' through ; a general 'military; test, as to '•..'• their'fitness .for ;the 'position; on com- . ■'.;' pletion of such examination, the. board - were: to :submit the names;of; the. most Buitable for further, final- selection (and ".;'.'. these , have been, received . frbhi all dis..tricts;except Otago); those finally selected will be-on probation'for six months, ."■; and will go through a refresher course .before being allocated to :their areas,' '•'■- (3) AU' officers on, the boards .are experienced officers,-and each'applicant was reported on individually .by officers com'-.- .■■•'■■- manding districts ; before' being submitted :'.-'. to the Selection. Board. ''.•;';.■-.■ ... (4) It'is not considered necessary .to . set up a. standard-for each district, as selected-candidates'will bo the best from ■ .■"-, each 'district, and will be required to pass a standard examfnation set out by headquarters,, and be. favourably reported .on before final 1 appointment is confirmed. (5) The'-Commonwealth conditions for ton-commissioned officers are first a .' simple 'competitive educational test, after. . which selected candidates go'through a" - special : school -of .instruction,, at the. u.end .of which they undergo a military ,-examination before appointments areouu- • firmed. It is,presumed their educational; ... test will bo; as laid down in regulations and.syllabus of examinations for appointments, which would not be so'severe as our educational test, which requires a ■■ Standard VI certificate, or its equivalent.