TERRITORIAL OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 249, 15 July 1919, Page 5

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS

Openings for. returned men. Defence Headquarters is desirous of providing as many places as possible in the Territorial Force for men with ac-' tive scrvice exporience. It is proposed, with this object jn view, to suspend tho normal examinations for first appointments to commissions in the Territorial Force. This suspension is to be ordered at the discretion of officers commanding districts, who will ascertain if an adequato supply of suitable officers can bo obtained from among returned men and temporary officers. Instructions issued by Headquarters provide that "the competitive examination for first appointment may bo suspended until further orders, in. certain eases, on the recommendation of an officer commanding a district, and tho following procedure on first appointments x adopted "(1) The officor commanding a district ,Vfill selcct suitable candidates, preferably u.c.o.'s from tho N.Z.E.F. or those who .have served as temporary officers during 'tho war. "(2) The names of those so selected will bo forwarded to General Headquarters. "(3 If tho names so submitted aro approved by General Headquarters, the candidates will bo appointed eecond lieutenants on probation. "(I) Such officers will bo called upon to undergo an examination within six i months of appointment, consisting ofj military subjects, as laid down in Appendix 111 of General Regulations; the president, of the board to bo tho General Staff Officer of the district, and tho board to consist at least ono other regular officcr." The services of many returned officers could bo used with advantago in tho Territorial Force, but comparatively few such officers are showing readiness U> undertake duly with the home forces. Many returned men feel that they have carried their share of the burden of national defonco and that Territorial duty would be uninteresting after active service experience.