DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 6

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

TEMPORARY MEN AND RETURNED SOLDIERS. THE REPLACEMENT POLICY, Wellington, Last Night. Instructions are being issued from Defence Headquarters to all officers commanding districts and heads of branches to dispense with the services of all temporary home service officers and men, unmarried men being iirst demobilised. It is the policy of the Department to reduce the number of employed officers and men on home service and to give opportunities to a number oI men who have seen active service, but the headquarters instructions sound a. note of caution to returned soldiers, who should bo discouraged from taking up temporary employment in the Defence service, as it is considered that their best interests would be served by embarking on a civil career. Therefore they should be advised and helped to obtain employment in civil life.

The temporary men, who in most cases have been rejected for ac.tive service, have endeavored to "do their bit" in the Department during the war, and their patriotic spirit can now be further shown by making room for those who have seen active service and wish to continue in the employ of the Defence Deparment. It is believed that the changes to be brought about will be received in this spirit, and that they will be carried ou,t smoothly, with the minimum of hardship to those who are displaced. Temporarily employed officers who belong to the civil service are to be released at once, and where a permanent officer of the Defence Departmnt is not available to replace them by a returned N.Z.E.F. officer will be temporarily placed in their position. The instructions state: "There are a number of men temporarily employed as soldiers in the various departments of Defence whose duties could equally well be performed by men in a civil capacity. The necessity for keeping such men in uniform no longer exists; therefore, they should be demilitarised, and in the case of home service men replaced by returned soldiers, where such are available." Officers commanding districts and all Defence officers are advised in headquarters instructions to work ■in close cooperation with the Returned Soldiers' Association, the Repatriation Department, and other organisations engaged in the work of the civil re-establishment of returned soldiers, and to render them every assistance in their power. Individual cases of hardship which come under official notice should be submitted to the Secretary of the local Returned Soldiers' Association, and a statement of the case forwarded to the. officer commanding the district. It is notified that permanent appointments to the New Zealand Saff Corps will not be made until demobilisation is completed. Tho number of vacancies will not be large, and a selection hoard will ultimately be set up to consider each application Defence officers are instructed to give every consideration to the applications of disabled soldiers who cannot follow their former avoc'ation, though it is pointed out that such men should be given employment in civil life which will ensure them a good career, with prospects- of advancement. However, when difficulties in this respect exist, and there are suitable vacancies in the Defence Department, officers concerned arc directed to fill the positions accordingly. Permanent clerical appointments to the Defence Department are subject to the Public Service Commissioners' regulations regarding educational and other qualifications.