OFFICERS FOR THE FORCES
PROCEDURE IJJ APPOINTMENT.
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER.
The method adopted in appointing officers to the Expeditionary Force has been explained by the Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, tp an "Otago Daily l Times" representative. "The Defence Headquarters in Wellington," Mr. Allen stated, "have issued instructions that the officers commanding the military districts—Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago—are to send in the names of officers for each reinforcement draft with their recommendation. The officers commanding districts are 'held responsible for tho selection of suitable officers to proceed ou probation to Trentham camp for preliminary training. Their instruc-' tions are... that they ,are to give preference to Territorial officers, but if there is not a sufficient number of Territorial officers they can send on those who have passed tho first ap-. pointment examination for commissions. Only in two or three instances have officers been sent in who have not so qualified. It must bo understood that all the best officers cannot expect to get away at once with the same draft. Reinforcement drafts have to be prepared every two months, and- lists of suitable and capable officers must be maintained for each draft. On arrival at Trentliam the officers will go through a preliminary course of four weeks' training before the arrival of their men. If an officer is found unsuitable after he gets into camp he is either turned down or accepted on probation for a junior rank. All officers continue on probation until within a week before they sail for the front, when they are dulv gazetted.
"It is proposed to fill some of the vacancies that may occur among the ranks of the officers in Trentham camp by promoting a number of suitable noncommissioned officers from the ranks. These promotions will be based on the work done in Trentham eamp, and only the most efficient sergeants will be promoted. Even in this case it will be insisted on that these non-commissioned officers before promotion shall have passed the, prescribed examination for 'first appointment. If they have not already passed, those specially selected will be given ail onportunity to do so. In making these promotion from the ranks in Trentham. it is not intended to promote sergeants l'rotn one reinforcement draft to go as officers' with another. In order that the training may be progressive and complete, ij i« necessary for officers, non-commis-sioned officers, and men' to go through tlio full -syllabus of training laid down. To transfer_ them would involve .the training being interrupted and incomplete. The selection for commission;* as second lieutenants will he made only three weeks before the sailing of the reinforcement draft .concerned." Thus, it will be seen, the' Minister added, "that in the first instance, officers commanding districts are primarily responsible for rtio selection of officers. This is essential, as the officers commanding districts have the greatest knowledge of the capacities of the officers under their command. Once they get,into Trentham camn t'liey are judged entirely on the capacity they show for their work and on their nower to command men. The officers who comprise the staff at Trentham and tlio chief of tho general staff are directly responsible to the Minister for *he' recommendations they make to him finally, and 1 have everv confidence that theso final recommendations .-.re thoroughly sound."
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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6
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552OFFICERS FOR THE FORCES Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6
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