The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 26. THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 91, 26 July 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JULY 26. THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.

New Zealand is soon to have a small standing army. The most important feature about an- army is its leader. The War Office lias selected the leader. The next most important feature is his staff, and, as far as the higher positions are concerned, this has apparently been already arranged without reference to the commandant-to-be, but the presumption is that the men who inaugurate the system that is being superseded are entirely capable of carrying out the commands of the commandant. The public is, however, more concerned with the men who will be in closest touch with the troops, and the Premier has shown that the most careful possible selection will take place. We have the best reason for believing that the most competent men from the I regular and volunteer force with the 'possible inclusion of ex-soldiers now in civilian employ—will be given the numerous positions it is -necessary to fill for the satisfactory working of the Territorial Army. There is bound to be jealousy, but the fact that every applicant for the position of officer, warrant officer, or non-commissioned officer will be rigorously examined as to his fitness is the best insurance against favoritism. We believe it will be absolutely impossible for any position, available to be filled, no matter how much "influence" the applicant has, if he is incompetent. Whatever may have been the defects of the purely voluntary system, it is certain that among the warrant and noncommissioned instructors there are men of high attainments and splendid service. Many of these are Army men who hfive been the last court of appeal, the veritable backbone of the forces. If the volunteer force has any excellence, it owes it to the work of Imperial Army instructors. There is no question as to what the Department should 1 do with these men. Most of tfiem were selected as being; the best soldiers of their class, and liave not only been the instructors of the rank and file, but the makers of the officers. Besides these men there are half-a-dozen or so staff-sergeants-majbr, all of whose service has been done in New Zealand or South Africa. Almost without exception these Imperial and colonial warrant or non-commissioned officers have done fine work. It would be obviously unfair if their claims to consideration were overlooked. It is likely that in some cases volunteer officers will be given commissions', and with the rigorous examination that will take place, no doubt the selection will be just, but it is, perhaps, a little likely that the claims of the instructors to commissioned rank may be overlooked. Naturallv the warrant or non-commis-sioned) officers who are able to pass the oncers' examination may feel some diffidence, but they should certainly be given every opportunity to qualify. The Chief of the General Staff is a "ranker." So is the Inspector-General, who lately lunched with the King, Major Lascelles, I who was given the position of Chief Inj structor for Mounted Duties, but who is [going back to his regiment in. Britain, [began his military career as a private in a New Zealand mounted regiment. Captain Richardson, the Director of Gunnery, began as a gunner. And so on. The imported soldier, although he has borne the heat and burden ot the day in New Zealand, has not been siven such good opportunities as the-New Zealand soldier, and now that there is a chance to reward! some of these faithful servants with promotion and better pay, the chance should foe available, if they can pass the necessary examinations.