SPECIAL FORCE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20910, 15 September 1939, Page 6

SPECIAL FORCE

TERRITORIALS’ POSITION NO PARTICULAR ALLOCATION BANK NOT PRE-DETERMINED (Special to Times) WELLINGTON. Thursday “Previous non-commissioned officer rank in the Territorial Force is a very good recommendation for promotion in the special force, but it In no way ensures the right of a man to be granted rank in that force," said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, when replying in the House of Representatives today to an urgent question asked by Mr J. A. Lee (Government— Grey Lynn) on behalf of the Hon. W. E. Barnard (Government—Napier). Mr Lee asked whether trained men in specialist territorial units, volunteering for service in the special force, would be allocated to the same type of specialist unit, so that their training and experience might be fully utilised. He also inquired whether any rank held by such volunteers would continue to be operative with its corresponding rate of pay. “A man enlists for service in the special force and cannot be accepted lor service in any particular unit,” said Mr Jones. "The military authorities must retain the right to post or transfer him to any unit within the force. Wherever possible, a man will be posted to the unit in which he has hod previous training. "A man enlists in the special force without any stipulation as to the unit or rank in which he will eerve. However, If a unit of the Territorial Force ia called out for service, a man retains his rank and appointment In that unit."