EMISSIONS IN THE FORCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1917, Page 7

EMISSIONS IN THE FORCES.

GIVEN TO JEN WTTH SERVICE AT TIIE FRONT 1 (From Our parliamentary Reporter). > Wellington. Sept. 12 "Only three commissions probably will be available for r.or.-eommissioner officers of the 30th and each subsequent reinforcements prior to departure from New Zealand/' said the Minister for Defence to-day "The small number is due to increased numbers cf officers being rotvrned from the front for the purpose of training reinforcements and also to the reduction in the percentage of reinforcements. "In future the qualifying examination will be held some four weeks prior to embarkation, The first nine candidates on the list in order of marks obtained will then be kept under close observation and test by the training staff. Finally, immediately prior to embarkation, the three candidates who appear to be best fitted to command men will be selected from the nine and appointed second .lieutenants, on probation, for a subsequent draft." This statement, ii, will be noticed, means that the channel of promotion to commissioned rank is being very nearly closed to men who have yet to join the Expeditionary Forces or who are at present in the training camps. The men who have already had service at the front have first claim to promotion. It will still be possible for recruits to secure entrance to the non-commissioned officers' training classes. The non-coms, lose one stripe when they reaoh England, ■but have a chance to recover it after an intensive training course thore.