Contingent Appointments.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 339, 13 February 1902, Page 3

Contingent Appointments.

The Auckland Observer is warm in its srictures on the method of appointing ontingent officers. It adds: — Take two of the officers as examples of ur argument. One is the son of Mr lector Norman Simson, and as such, lays ■ daim to considerable influence with Mr ■ leddon. He has no experience whatever jf war or of handling bodies of men. Only f few weeks ago, after a wrangle, he was appointed lieutenant of the Seddon Horse. 1 this is his sole qualification for the imjortant position he has been appointed J 0) a position that, Mr Seddon himself says, exercises influence upon the fate of the men under his charge. And yet dozens of men who have been officers in the volunteer force for years, or who have seen service with former contingents, have been passed over in young Mr Simpson’s favour. Why'? The second case is even more open to question. On Saturday morning, before the Contingent left, Mr Seddon was suddenly moved to grant a commission to Mr “ Boydie ” Davis. Here again the motive is inexplicable. Beyond the fact that the youth is a son of Mr Moss Davis, the eminent local brewer, it is not clear that he possesses any qualifications for a lieutenancy. Ho has not been a volunteer so far as we can gather. Ho was not even passed by the Examining Board as a member of the Contingent. Presenting himself at Trentham, he introduced himself by saying that Mr Seddon’s instructions were that he should have a place in the camp. Consequently, the name of Seddon being omnipotent, he was allowed to stay. He returnod here on Saturday a sergeant, and later in the day, blossomed out as a full-fledged lieutenant. We have nothing to say against either of these young men, both of whom are, no doubt, very estimable persons in thenproper place. But that placo is certainly not in positions of command over our troops, whoso lives depend in such a large measure upon skilful and capable leaders, and who have a right in a democratic country to demand that their officers shall be trained men, chosen independent of influence. There were many capable and experienced officers anxious to accompany this contingent. But they lacked influence, •or, having influence, were not of the right colour. We ridicule tho abuses in the British army resulting from the appointments through influence. Are we any better in New Zealand? Naturally, these appointments have caused a feeling of resentment against Mr Seddon, in view of his assurance that concern for the lives of the troopers would be his chief consideration in making appoinments. And it was largely this resentment that secured Mr Seddon such a cool reception at the Metropolitan Ground on Saturday. But what can he expect ? Appointments by influence are a direct contradiction of his alleged policy of “equal opportunity.” But the whole policy of tho Government is a mass of contradictions—it is tho policy of the Opportunist—the policy of expediency.