MILITARY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 9

MILITARY NOTES.

[Edited By EcnEtos.] POINTS OF DISCIPLINE. FROM THE XEW BEGULATIOXS. The new defence regulations, published ns a special supplement to tho New Zealand, Gazelle, contain soiuo interesting notes pn discipline. Tho following general instructions as to discipline, are adapted from Section 8 of tiie King's Regulations, for tho guidance of all ranks of tlio A'ew Zealand Military Forces to whom they will strictly apply.— An officer of any rank will adopt to> wards his subordinates Mich methods of command and treatment as will not only insure respect for authority, but also luster tho feeling of self-respect and personal honour essential to military efficiency. Warrant officers tuul non-com-miSMuiied cliiccrs will l>3 guided by the foregoing principles in dealing with each other and with privato toldiers. They will avoid intemperate language or an olfousive manner. An officer is not to reprovo n non-commissioned officer iu tiic presenco or hearing oi privates, unless it is necessary for ilio benefit of example that the reproof bo public. If an officer thinks himself wronged by his commanding officer, and on due application made to him docs not receive the redress to which ho may cunsider himself entitled, ho may complain, in writing, to his brigado commander, who is hereby required to examine into such complaint, make a report to tho officer commanding tho district, and receive his directions thereon. In cases of officers not serving under a brigado (or coast defence) commander tho complaint will lx> sent direct to the officer commanding the district, who will then cither give his directions thereon or submit the matter to the Commandant of the Forces. If any soldier thinks himself wronged iu any "matter by any o/lioer other than by his captain, or by any soldier, he may complain thereof to his captain; and if ho thinks himself wronged by his captain, 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, ho may complain thereof to his brigado commander j a-ud 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 ho is satisfied as to the justice of the complaint so made, take such steps as may be necessary for giving full redress to Ihe complainant in respect of the matter complained of. If the soldier still thinks himself wronged, either in respect of his complaint not being redressed or in respect of nny other matter, he .may complain thereof, through the proper channel, to tlio Commandant of the Forces. A soldier may, if ho no desire, submit his complaint in writing. The senior combatant officer at any place where troops are located or assembled will in all cases bo held responsible for tho maintenance of discipline and order at that placs, and to that extent will be the commander of all troops located or assembled there. An officer is at all times responsible for the maintenance of Mod order and discipline, and for upholding tho credit of the military forcee of the Dominion; he is to afford the utmost aid and support to his commanding officer. It is his duty to repress, and instantly report, any negligence, or improprioty of conduct of non-commisslotioji officers and private soldiers when in uniform, whether the offenders do or do not belong to his particular unit or corps. A commanding officer should impress upon all under his commnnd,tho propriety of courtesy in intercourse with all with whom they, as officers and soldiers, are brought into contact, and should particularly caution them to pay deference and respect to civil authorities, ~ , Attempts to obtain favourable consideration of nny application by tho uso of outside influence ore forbidden, and, if resorted to, will be regarded as an admission on tho part of.the applicant that his case is not good on its merits, and it will bo dealt with accordingly. When au interview is asked for, or a letter written on behalf of an officer by any person other than himself, such application will bo deemed to have been made at his suggestion, unless he can show to tlio satisfaction of the authorities that ho has no knowledge, directly or indirectly, of such application. Officers and soldiers in their capacity as such must guard against being plated in such a position that they may be influenced, or may lay themselves open to the suspicion of being influenced, in. the discharge of their duty by other than purely public considerations. An officer ur soldlor is forbidden to institute, or take part in, any meetings, demonstrations, or processions for party or political purposes, in barracks, quarters, camps, or their vicinity. Under no circumstances whatever will he attend Buoh meetings, wherever held, in uniform. Any information of a professional nature which an officer or soldier may acquire while travelling or employed on duty is to be regarded as the property of the Defence Department, and is not to be published in any form without previously obtaining tho permission of the general officer commanding. An officer or soldier is not to prejudge questions which arc under the consideration of superior military authority, by the publication, anonymously or otherwise, of his opinions, and lie is not to take part in public in a discussion relating to orders, regulations, or instructions issued by his .superiors. Officers and soldiers of the New Zealand Territorial Force who commit, when performing military duty or going to or from the place of parade, exercise, or military duty, any of the offences specified in Part 1 of tho Army Act, shall ka liable to bo arrested, tried by court-martial, and punished in the manner laid down in the Army Act, and the llulcs of Procedure: provided that when tho offeiico for which tho officer or soldier is tried is one of those specified in tho Defence Act, the punishment awarded shall not exceed that therein laid down for that oil'ence. When mobilised or in camps of training, officers and soldiers of the Territorial Force chaiged with any military offeneo may bo arrested as laid down in tho King's Regulations. At all other limes offences which cannot be dealt with on the spot will be reported to superior authority for instructions as to disposal, the offender in the meantime, _ except in eases of violence, being placed in open arrest. 'Aα officer or soldier in "open arrest" will not be allowed a to wear uniform or attend parados until his casa. is dealt with by his superior authority. In cases of violence the offender will bo handed over to tho Civil authorities for temporary custody on tho authority of the, senior officer or non-commissioned officer available on tho Miot. The officer or non-commissioned officer ordering the arrest will report the ease at once by telegram to 'the offender's company, etc., commander, and to tho headquarters of the unit or corns to which the offender belongs. Reservists when mobilised or at training are subject to (ho same, disciplino as soldiers of the Territorial Force. In companies forming part o. tho organisation of a school or other recognised organisation, the discipline will, bo' in tho hands of the authorities of that school or organisation, but will be administered by and through (he Officer Commanding the company. Punishments in tho senior eadots will usually take (ho form of extra drill. A cadet may, however, be fined by summary award nf his company commander an amount sufficient to make good any lass, dam:i|o, or neglect of arms, accoutrements, uniform, or other Government proportv on issue to him: provided that no cadet is fined moro than a total amount of ,C 2 in one year under (his paragraph. Such fine, if not paid, may bo recovered from the cadet's parent or guardian in a Mapistralo's Court, and shall bo credited' to Ihu Public Account. When a case cannot bo adequately dealt with under ft), (2. or (3J, officers commanding companies will refer it to tho Officer Conimamlr.i" (he District. A senior cadet must produce his personal record-book when called upon lo do so by superior authority; faifuro to do so will constitute a military offence and be punished accordingly. Lost recordbooks \nll bo replaced at the cadet's or. pen sa.