The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1917 APPOINTMENT OF MILITARY OFFICERS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 311, 18 September 1917, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1917 APPOINTMENT OF MILITARY OFFICERS.

When the Minister for Defence made his explanation last Wednesday in reply to the questions of Mr P. C. Webb as to how the son of an Anglican Bishop managed to get his commission of 2nd Lieutenant, he let a good deal of light into a question that has aroused considerable comment in Wellington. Briefly put, the Minister's reply was that at the recent qualify ing.exannnations at Trentham 34 of the candidates passed and of these the youth referred to was 16th in order. There were only six vacancies to be filled and when the selection was finally made number sixteen stooil >r< oml in 01 tier of in owmcmlation. Probationary i\\A Lieutenant Averill and bis friends may congratulate themselves upon his selection, but what about the feelings of the fourteen qualified men over whose heads he has been pitchforked ? And what is likely to be the effect upon the service generally when it is understood that competency has no chance against recommendation ? The examiners' award marks in order of merit —the appointments are evidently made at the sweet will of someone in authority. Fifth on the list of the names

stood thai of the son of a wellknown Colonel of the Staff, a man whose keenness, energy and ability have been of enormous service not only to the Territorials but to our over-seas army. Leaving altogether on one side the question of heredity —though there is no walk of life in which hereditary qualities are more strongly carried than in the military profession—it was the opinion of those who knew this young man that he would have made an excellent officer. A keen Senior Cadet and -an enthusiastic Territorial hewoulch undoubtedly have made good if given a fair chance. Upon entering camp he was rapidly promoted to the rank of sergeant —a plain indication of the opinion of his/<ron commanding officers. In the competitive examination he beat the man who .has displaced him by sixty-five points, and his age is twentythree against the twenty years of the latter. According to Military Regulations no Territorial officer, however experienced, is able to hold a commission in the over-seas forces until he is twenty-three, but it appears that if a youth is not an officer, and has had no experience in handling men, he may be given a command at twenty. It is impossible that the matter should be allowed to rest here. If the House does its duty it will insist upon the Minister making public the names of the person or persons who were responsible for the recommendation that resulted in this appointment being made and to give guarantees that this sort of thing shall not occur again. It would be better to revert to the old vicious system of the purchase of commissions than to have further instances of this kind, which cannot fail to have an adverse influence upon the morale of our soldiers.