IMPERIAL COMMISSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2822, 13 July 1916, Page 6

IMPERIAL COMMISSIONS

APPLICANTS NOT ENCOURAGED. A question by Mr. J. A. Young, as to whether young New Zealaaders were encouraged to seek Imperial commissions drew from the Minister of Defence yesterdav the following emphatic reply:— "The military age in New Zealand has been fixed at 20 years of age. The New Zealand Government does not consider that the issue of permits for young men under that age should be encouraged to enable tliem to ■proceed to the United Kingdom with a view to obtaining commissions.', Exception should only be made in the case of young men who are nominated or who successfully compete in the examinations for cadetships at the Royal Military, College. Sandhurst, under the existing arrangement between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments. Nor is it considered desirable that suitable men above the age of 20 should be allowed to proceed to the United Kingdom to obtain commissions in tho new armies. All suitable men are required for. service in the New. Zealand military forces. It may bo noted that many men who' left Now Zealand earlier in the war, and who gained commissions in the new armies, aro now using every endeavour to obtain transfer to the New Zealand Expeditionary Foroes. It is not therefore considered necessary to make further arrangements irith the Imperial Government." i