ARMY COMMISSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2685, 3 February 1916, Page 6

ARMY COMMISSIONS

APPLICATIONS BY RETURNED SOLDIERS !• GOVERNMENT'S DECISION STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) explained to a reporter yea;terday i*rangements which had been made "by the Government in connection with the applications ;by returned soldiers for commissions in the Expeditionary Forces. "We have heard a good deal of talk lately oil the part of returned soldiers," said .the.'Minister, "to the effect that they should have an opportunity of getting commissions here. I have told ■them that the matter must be one for the general'bfficer commanding the Expeditionary Forces to deal with, anil that we could not select the men for commissions here, as that would probably lead , to a grave injustice to the others ~who- had not; returned, and who were'still serving : at the front or had gone to England or Egypt. I also informed.;them'l:.would do what I could .to get t lie... general officer commanding the Expeditionary, Forces to nominate •for commissions a certain number of tliem who had, returned to New Zealand.

"I have accordingly been in communication with the general officer commanding with regard to the matter. He was asked to nominate certain men who had returned to New Zealand, but he replied stating that it was difficult for him to do .so,, as he could not tell Whether the men he might select were fit ■or whether they desired to obtain commissions. What we now propose to ■do,, therefore, is to invite non-commis-.sioned officers invalided home to New Zealand, and privates, if they think they can with further training qualify for commissions, to apply for commissions to the Defence Department in New Zealand. These applications will be referred to the general officer commanding in Egypt, who will select six men per month for commissions. Of course, there may be some conditions in regard to securing these commissions, "■"'fit-must be understood tliat the applications must be restricted to those who feel they ■ have a - right to be considered in the granting of commissions. Naturally one looks to the non-commis-sioned officers as the chief source of supply. Of course, no one need apply who is not medically fit, and the men nominated will go with the reinforcements as officers, and probably some may be fit to take commissions straight away. That, however, is a matter of detail with which the staff must dealSome of the men may require more or less additional training. It must not ,be supposed that because a soldier has been in; the trenches he has acquired all. the knowledge requisite for an officer. , He may have to learn something 'more;ill New Zealand before he can take a commission. At present wo git a large proportion of our officers from tho non-commissioned olass, who get at least six months' special 1 raining." ' ' ' „ /