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SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS.

IN TERRITORIAL FORCES. MORE INTEREST NEEDED. There is at present a shortage of Territorial officers in tho Dominion, accordI ing to Colonel E. S. Heard, Chief of Staff, who yesterday accorded an interview to a Dominion reporter. Ho admitted that tho recent examinations for first appointment, to commissions in the Territorial Force liad been disappointing, and was of opinion that tho examinations had not been taken seriously enough. With the expansion of the Territorial scheme many openings had been made for commissions, but suitable men could not be got to fill them. The comment that the standard of examination had been too high was not approved of by Colonel Heard, , who said they needed officers well educated, and with knowledge a little above that of the ordinary man in the rpnlcs. It was frxpeetcd the best men would Come to tho front under the compulsory service scheme, and if they did not, where were tho officers to be got? In England there was an officers' training corps, but thai was necessary, as there was 110 compulsory service. While the last examinations had been rather disappointing, it. was hoped that the next would givo better results. Candidates had apparently, in this instance, not prepared themselves the examination. "If the candidate does not caro to put in some_ extra work in the'way. of preparing for an examination that is going to give him a commission,' he is not worth having as an officer," commented tho colonel.

Always Commissions Offering. Proceeding Colonel Heard stated, that there would always bo a fair number of commissions offering. ■ The ; forces of the Dominion had been suddenly expanded from the rolunteor days of the. Territcrial standing, almost doubling the number of men receiving training, and necessitating a largo increase of the number of officers employed. In addition there were tho officers required for the Senior Cadets. As it was necessary to have no differenco between tho qualification of the Territorial and Senior Qadct officer, both were required to undergo tho same examination. • The question of officers for tho Senior Cadets is a very important one, declared Colonel' Heard. "As a matter of fact the Senior Cadet officer has a harder row to ]-oe than the other," said the colonel, and proceeded to [Mint out that h© was doing the groundwork in the training of the coming Territorials,' and, to a largo extent, on his work depended the ultimate efficiency of the .Territorial. Proceeding, Colonel Heard said: VI consider that the Senior Cadet officer is a man holding a-very important position, and for that position wo want the very best." < The officers at present engaged in training the Territorial forces are doing good work, and judging by the way they turn up at instruction classes, are taking a greater interest in their work, and improving every year. Tho officers of _ tho futuro will, according to tho Chief of Staff, have a great advantage over the officers of tho part and tho present, in that they will have done their Cadet training, which was more thorough now than it used to be.

Provision for Probationers. While it is necessary that candidates for commissions in the Territorial Force shall pass a competitive examination, provision has been made that tliey may first serve a term of probation. The regulations "gazetted" on January 27 ;pbint_gut thaffirst [appointments to commissions will, as a rule, be mado in tho rank of second lieutenants, from candidates from the ranks, recommended by their C.O.'s, through tho usual channel, and selected by competitive examination. Failing the nccessary supply by this means, all appointments, except New Zealand Medical Corps and New. Zealand Veterinary Corps, will be probationary, and will lapse at the end of one year should the. probationer not have passed the prescribed examination withinthat period. , In special cases the District Selection Board may recommend tho detention of the probationer, when the G. 0.0. may grant an extension for a period not exceeding one year. Commissions will not, however, be issued to tho probationers till they have passed the competitive examination. These provisions have been made to encourage interest in the ranks, and to . get suitable men to train for their commissions.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19140206.2.88

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1977, 6 February 1914, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
698

SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1977, 6 February 1914, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1977, 6 February 1914, Page 8

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