DEFENCE STORES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17033, 18 June 1917, Page 6

DEFENCE STORES

MILITARY ORGANISATION.

ON BRITISH ARMY LINES.

END OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMIS-

SIONERS' CONTROL,

_ A good deal of interest is being taken m the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department and New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps regulations gazetted last week. The effect of them (says the Wellington Post) is to' place the defence stores staff and thoso handling military equipment and stores m the districts and training camps on a straight-out military footing, tho same as in the British Army. The regulations, in fact, are modelled on strictly British lines, and so far as the defence stores stall' is concerned ends the anomaly of having civilians in tho army who are really outside it, and aro not subject to military discipline and control. Hitherto tho defence stores staff and others doing tho samo work in the districts havo been under the control of the lublic Service" Commissioners, and havo worn civilian clothes. Now they will have a purely military status, and will wear uniform.

Tho regulations aro. in two parte. Part I constitutes tho Army Ordnanoo Department, and establishes it as part of tho permanent staff of the Defen<Je Forces. The directing staff consists of (a) the director of equipment and ordnanco stores, graded as ordnance officer, first class; (b)-the assistant director of equipment and ordnance stores, graded as ordnance officer, second class; ( c ) four ordnanco officers attached to district commands, graded as ordnance officers, third class; (d) two ordnance officers of the expeditionary force camp 6, graded as ordnance officers, fourth class. The, executive staff consists of three accounting officers at/headquarters, graded as ordnance officers, fourth class. The inspectorial staff department comprises—(a) the inspector of ordnance machinery, graded as ordnance officer, third class; (b) the inspector, engineer, electric light and defence vessels stores, graded as ordnance officer, third class. Officers of the department rank as follows: Ordnanco officer, first class; colonel, lieu-tenant-colonel, or major. Ordnanco officer, second class: Major or captain. Ordnance officer, third class: Captain. Ordnance officer, fourth class: Lieutenant. The rates of pay and allowances for the several ranks are as specified in the financial instructions and allowance regulations for the staff corps, excepting that ordnance officers, fourth class, will receive on first appointment £275 per annum, increasing to £300 per annum after four years' service, if recommended. The salary of an officer who on his appointment to the department is already in receipt of more than the rate prescribed will not, however, be' reduced. The administration of the department is vested in the director of equipment and 6tores (Major M'Oristell), under the direction of the quartermaster-general. Regarding promotion, it is provided: " A nominal roll will bo kept at the headquarters of the department, and all promotions will be made and regulated therefrom in accordance with the establishments laid, down. Seniority alone affords no claim tor promotion; the successful working of a section, due to the initiative of the officer responsible, is the essential qualification." ■ Part n • constitutes the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, and establishes it as part of the Permanent Force. It provides for three sections—viz., clerical and stores section, armourers' section, and armament artificers' sections, with a total of 213 noncommissioned officers and privates. The pay for a private is 9s a day for seven days a week, with married allowance of Is a day or £3 10s per week for a married man, and for other ranks rises to 12s per day and Is 8d a day married allowance for conductors, armourer sergeants-major, and armament sergeants-major. _ Members in addition are entitled to enjoy various benefits, such as medical attention, compensation for injuries, etc. . All promotions and appointments in tho corps will be made under the authority of tho Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, and will be notified in corps orders.

The department and corps, comprising in all 13 officers and 231 other ranks, will have headquarters in Wellington, and will bo distributed .throughout the districts and camps as required. Existing employees are being given the opportunity to join, and preference in the various, appointments bein}*' made provided they are qualified. It is expected that the new establishment will be created and in full working order within another week's time. Existing hands who do not care to join are being given the opportunity of transferring, to another department, and with those who join in no case is a man's pay being reduced.