MAJOR M'DONALD'S POSITION

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 4

MAJOR M'DONALD'S POSITION

THE STJCCESSOK NAMED. It is reported, on the best authority, that ■ Captain A. C. C. Stevens, of the N.Z. Staff Corps, lias been appointed Commandant of the Junior Cadets, vice Major T. W. M'Donald, who has gone to England for twelve months' training with the Imperial Forces. Captain Stevens was formerly in the Royal Field Artillery, but latterly left the service, and was for some time a member of J. C. Williamson's "Merry Widow" Comic Opera Company.. Subsequently ho was appointed Staff Officer to Major M'Donald, with tho rank of lioutenaiil, and later on was given a commission in tho New Zealand Staff Corps with the rank of captain.' It is further stated that Cabinet has voted an increase of .£IOO to Captain Stevens's salary. The Junior Cadot Department is under tho jurisdiction of the Minister for Education.

A DoMisiox reporter sought an interview with the Prime Minister on the subject of the above statement, but was informed thai Sir Joseph Ward had "nothing to say'* aljout it. It wa-i a Departmental matter. This intimation was conveyed by the Prime Minister's private secretary, who remarked further that Mr.' Stevens, being tho officer next senior in rank to Major M'Donald, had, "in accordance with the practice usually followed," been.appointed tmnnorarily to carry out the Commandant's duties during his absence. The present intention was that when Major M'Donald returned, Captain Stevens should revert to his original rank.

As to the statement that Cabinet had voted this officer an increase of £10!) a year in salary, tho Prime Minister's secretary said that, when'an ollicei was advanced temporarily to a. higher rank, it was usual to advance him also to a higher scale of pay. The length of time for which Captain Stevens would receive additional remuneration would correspond with tho duration of the additional duties which devolved upon him during the a'osetieo of Major M'Donald.