DEFENCE OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 6

DEFENCE OFFICERS

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

A statemont regarding the "combingoiit" of officers of the Defence Department was made by the Minister of Defence in the House of Representatives yesterday, in reply to a question. Sir James Allen said that of iS ciUcers in the First Division and Class A cf the Second Division 25 were medically unfit. One was over age, and one whs on loan from the Imperial Government. Fifteen were employed on dental service. Most of these men probably were fit. Arrangements were being made to exchange these men with men who had already had war service. Two officers formerly 'classed as C 2 had been passed as fit and were gcjng into camp. One officer, the principal medical officer, had been allowed to remain by tho Military Service Board. Sir. M'CalliMn: What about the ir.en on hospital ships t Sir James Allen: They «ro on adive eervice. Members: No. Sir James Allen: Yc9, but they are not exactly in the same dangerous position as Iho men in tlio trenuhes. Mr. Sl'Cnllum: They should hike their turn at the front. Sir James. Allen , I have no objection to their going to the front at a'l. Tho Minister went on to refer to the officers at the head of the Defence Department, etarting with General L'ender6on, Director-General of Mndigal Services. ,He showed that they jind all been lent by thff Imperial dovornment, had been invalided from nctive eoivice, or had been retained in New 'Zealand for important work.