“THE BAND OF HOPE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9793, 17 October 1917, Page 5

“THE BAND OF HOPE”

BUT NOT TOO MUCH HOPE. 41 TERRITORIAL OFFICERS AND 13 COMMISSIONS. Mr C. J. Parr, M.P. for Eden, complained in Parliament yesterday afternoon that while there had been 41 Territorial officers —men of 10 to 12 years service—in camp, there had been only 13 commis-’ons available for thorn, whereas 52 n.c.o.’s and privates had been given commissions since Fobru“Tlr c. H. Poole (Auckland West): "They call it ‘the Band of Hope’!’ (Laugiiter.) , , - . A member j << Hopo (Laughter.) A , Sir James Allen: “Yes; I admit the hardship, but I do not see how we are to avoid it. Tho number of our /cmforcemcnts has boon reduced, and consequently the number of officers has also been reduced.” IHo was not sure, he added., that the number of n.c.o. s and privates w-ho had received commissions since February wa s 52 or not, but they had “come through,’ they had won their way. . Mr Parr; “So have the Territorial officers.” ~ ~ , ~ Sir James Allen said that the number of ’ men from the front who were made officers was also increasing. He had been battered with demands that men with experience should be appointed, and they had now very nearly got to such a pitch that they could officer the reinforcomemts with men returned from tho front. Hence this hardship. He wished they could avoid it. He was very sorry for them. They had landed themselves in a position where there Was very little room for them. He' thought they had reached the position when they could onlv appoint: throe officers from tho Territorials. Ho was very sorry that they would have to go into the ranks.