IMPORTED OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1987, 18 February 1914, Page 7

IMPORTED OFFICERS.

NEED FOR THE IMPERIAL LEAVEN

EMPHASISED BY MR ALLEN (By ToleeraDh—Pross Association.) Hastings, February 17. Interviewed to-day the Hon. Jas. 'Allen, Minister of Defence, said that ho. wished to correct a wrong impression which had been convoyed by the wording of a Proas Association messago sent from Wellington last Saturday, which 'stated that the supply of New Zealand Territorial officers had now practically reached requirements, and further importations were unnecessary. What Mr. Allen said at Wellington was that, when all tho boys (including thoso sent this year) come back from their training at Duntroon Military College, the. supply will bo sufficient for our requirements. "So far as tho annual requirements of tho service are- concerned," 6aid Mr. Allen, "wo can meet them by'sending four or five boys annually to'Duntroon for training. : "We shall require- in tho future to exchange Now Zealand officers for British for two reasons: Firstly, wo get the advantage in New Zealand of highlytrained officers as an example for our own officers, and, secondly, we shall have the special advantage of New Zealanders who are |ont to 'England or India being trained with the Imperial Army. This is especially, necessary, because if there is to be an Imperial Army at all tho standard of training of the officers must be about the same, and tho English and New Zealand officers must understand each other, and so be able to work together in time of need." Mr. 'Allen concluded by raying that he was fully convinced that New.Zealand owes a great deal to the English officers that havo been brought out here to assist us. .A LANCE FOR THE OFFICERS. . ' BEKTTLEMENTRESENTED. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) : Auckland, February 17. . . The announcement made by the Minister of Dofence that it is not proposed further to import British officers for tho New Zealand Forces since there will now be a sufficient number of New Zealanders in training to keep the staff oorps up to its full complement has drawn attention to the part played by the British officer in setting the Now Zealand Defence scheme of universal training on a sound and permanent basis. The- man in the street,, largely through ignorance-, partly because, of hie petty point of view, receives this intimation with unqualified approval, and hastily assumes that the English officer is a sort of stop-gap to be tolerated until a:better man can be and.will be trail-ed-from the ranks of the New Zealanders. . ■■'.■-.:. Colonel G. W. S. Patterson, Coast Defence Commander in tho Auckland

Military; District, indignantly .repudiates this attitude of belittlement towards the British officer, and as a territorial officer keenly.appreciative of the sound .work they have done in putting the territorials' scheme- on a working basis, says: "I have been very closely in touch with Imperial men, both in Auckland here ; and.on various staff rides, and I know that they .have-done yeoman work and have;, never spared themselves. They have done more than could ever have " -been reasonably expected of them, arid it is a- gratuitous insult to suggest,' as I,have heard it suggested, that these ■men have failed to carry out the work they came to: New Zealand te do. Tho ■difficulties in launching the universal E ; trainingjgphgrne, I w,erei.mo l mentous,,a tre- .; '.mendous amount .of .permanent: work has been accomplished in I a.very, short time, •"■and I am very sure that we.could never - have- got on.,withoufc tho. amported;:offi- . CerS.' , >' ;. :.:i, .i! ■ .' --.. •; 1 , . '" .- ■' ■ • /Colonel -Patterson, explained' that he believed thoroughly in'the principle of ■training our own officers, and. sending ; .New Zealand officers; Home from time to ; - time for training, but he. pointed out there.must -alwavs bo some imported men to keep the forces quite up to date and efficient, otherwise there would simply be a waste of the. money-that-was set aside for universal training. "A pood deal has been said,"- remarked ..Colonel.Patterson, impatiently, "about the manner of some of, the English ■ That is just puerile talk. A ■soldier is a different typo of a man , from one trained in any other walk of lifo. ' Any man who has travelled about: ■ a litile will tell, you that the manner of the average.Englishman,is against him. There is a certain reserve aboirl him that some people seem.to find objectioii- ' .able, but .that is no reason why'he should not be a good man all the same." .■ ■ ■■■ -. • : . • '