DEFENCE ADMINISTRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17693, 2 August 1919, Page 15

DEFENCE ADMINISTRATION

■ ■» SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. CONFERENCE OF GROUP COMMANDERS. A conference of group commanders in the Otago Military District, arranged bytOolonel T. VV. M'Donald, O.C.S was lield in Dunodin on Thursday, with the object of reorganising tho stair and rearranging their duties in order that tho maximum of efficiency might bo obtained. Colonel M'Donald presided, and the following were also present:—Colonel Gabites, A.D.MS.; Major Hickey, Captain Dyer, Lieutenant M'Carthy, Captain Zeisler (vocational ofEoer), and the four group commandora— Lieutcnant-colonel Glendining (Group 14), Major Frnsor (Group 13), Major Chisholm (Group 16), and Captain Redmond (Group 15 >-

Special attention was given to the question of dealing with complaints by returned soldiers. Colonel M'Donald explained that ho wished the various group commanders to deal without delay with all grievances ventilated by returned men, and if the officer found that the complaint could not bo adequately disposed of by him it should be referred to the O.C. at Dunedin headquarters. The object was to have all grievances dealt with with the utmost despatch in order that the soldiers might be spared the inconvenience and tedious delays that might ensue if the oomplaints were sent in the first instance to the head office. Often the matter could be settled on the spot by the officer consulted. Tho matter of close co-operation between the Defence Department and the Vocational Training Department was also discussed at length. Colonel M'Donald is desirous of the group commanders acting as local representatives in their various groups for the vocational officers of the district, and in oases where men require vocational training to make provision for them to attend technical or other olasses without the delay which would occur if the cases had first to be referred to a vocational officer. This is one example of the neoessity for co-opera-tion between all branches dealing with returned Boldiers.

Group commanders and their staffs were also instructed to get into' closest touflh with the Repatriation Board and Committee iii order to insure that, there will be no overlapping in tho work. Questions of economy and expense were fully discussed, the necessity for economy where such could be effected without impairing efficiency beinpr fully recognised. The matter of reorganisating staffs of the various groups was also fully threshed oat. Emphasis was laid by Colonel M'Donald on the necessity for the closest co-operation between the staff and groups with the A.D.M.S. of the distriot, it being pointed out that almost everything that was done in the way of preparation for camps, and classes of _ instruction, and training of every description necessitated the closest supervision by the A.D.M.S.. who is the chief adviser on medical matters to the O.C. district.