TERRITORIAL "STRIKE'

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 2 December 1912, Page 5

TERRITORIAL "STRIKE'

FRIDAY NIGHT'S INCIDENT.

AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION,

Lieutenant Purely, of the permanent Territorial staff, and Acting-Adjutant for the district, waited upon the editor of tho Age on Saturday last and offered an official explanation of tho position in regard to Friday night's incident at the Masterton Drill Hall. SECOND LIEUTENANT HIRSCHBERG.

It appears that the. junior officer to whom exception has been taken by the men ig Second-Lieutenant Hirschberg, who is said to be nineteon, and not eighteen years of age. Lieut. Purdy stated that tho officer in question was only junior officer of tho company, and it was incorrect to shy that ho had superseded the sernor lieutenants. By a clerical error, an order had been issued promoting Second-Lieutenant Hirschberg to the position of lieutenant. As soon a? the error was detected, it was rectified.

EXAMINATIONS

Tn regard to examinations, Lieut. Purdy pointed out that it was not necessary for a second lieutenant to have passed an examination prior to his appointment. He was expected to pass his examination within a reasonable time of bis appointment, and if he did not do so he was retired. Second-Lieutenant Hirschberg had re. ceived training at the Wanganui College, and had passed his sergeant's examination. He bad five years' service to his credit. ABSENCE OF OFFICERS.

In regard to the absence of officers from pa ratio on Friday night Lieut. Purdy said lie could not see that there was anything "significant" about this. The Officer Commanding (LieiJt. Wilson) had written, stating that lie was unable to attend the parado. NO SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS.

Lieut. Purdy asserted that appointments were never made for social reasons, and he instanced Wellington, wlioi-o- most of the officers had risen from the ranks, in support of this contention. Appointments are made, ho said, solely on account of "goodcharacter and intelligence."

GRIEVANCES. "If the men have a grievance, imaginary or otherwise," stud Lieut. Purdy, "they can lay their complaint in a proper manner before the Officer Commanding, and it will bo thoroughly investigated." INQUIRY TO BE HELD.

The Acting-Adjutant stated that immediate action was being taken in regard to the alleged breach of discipline on Friday night. A f ull "•..- quiry would bo held, in due course, by the authorities.