The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1916. OFFICERS’ COMMISSIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 13 October 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1916. OFFICERS’ COMMISSIONS.

JExactly on what lines commissions are granted to our men who go into training has been puzzling a good many people, and no doubt misconceptions have arisen. ' Some light is thrown on the matter by the Wellington Evening ■ Post which explains that the number of commissions given has varied considerably with each draft, some Reinforcements having been allocated as many as forty, while others again have only secured three or ten. Latterly the tendency j lias been to reduce the number, and , there* has been much heartburning I in consequence. This has been not-1 ably the case with the 18th Reinforcements, the n.c.o.’s of whicji werej only fortunate enough to secure i ten commissions, as compared with • twenty awarded the draft immedia-j tely preceding. The Rost goes on | to say: While not questioning the) wisdom of the appointmets that have been made—commissions are granted ! solely on the recommendation oft Lieut.-Col. C. R. Macdonald, T.G.5.,1 Chief Infantry Instructor, in whom | the men in camp possess the fullest. confidence—we suggest that much 1 good would lie done by a clear official statement on " the position. This is needed, because the n.c.o.’s who enter j camp with a view to winning commissions do not know exactly where they are. When they sit for examination they remain in ignorance as to how many commissions are to he awarded; also, they do not appear to he thoroughly acquainted with the grounds upon which their merits are determined and upon whose reports. This, wo submit, is unsatisfactory, and would he remedied by the military ! authorities taking the men and the public fully into their confidence. No one, of course, suggests that more commissions should be granted in j camp than there are vacancies for, or that the men already at the front 1 should not have the preference, but while that is so wo see no valid reason why the authorities should not at eacli examination announce the number of the commissions available, and also to each n.c.o. class on I entering camp the main grounds upon which awards will be made, and by whom the candidates will bo reported on. R.y adopting this course the authorities would dispel manv illusions and subsequent needless disappointment. Roth tlie men and the / public, in addition, would welcome i

some information on (1) what steps are taken to check favouritism by unit commanders in making their imports, and (2) the rights of second lieutenants in the Territorial Force and Senior Cadets to he appointed to commissions in the Expeditionary Force over the heads of men, quite capable of holding commissions, who have had six months’ continuous

training in camp. Tn the past, Territorial and Senior Cadet officers have been given a preference, but in view of the very fine system of training that has been developed in camp it is felt that the time for that has now passed as applied to second lieutenants. ; : .