The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo. FRIDAY, JANUARY 10. 1902. THE OFFICERS OF THE EIGHTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1902, Page 4

The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10. 1902. THE OFFICERS OF THE EIGHTH.

For the cause that lacks assistance Fop the wrong that needs resistance For the future in the distance And the good that we can do.

The Eighth Contingent will be one of the finest, as it.is the largest, of

the bodies of men this colony has contributed to the war. Both as regards their physical fitness and soldierly efficiency the applicants have had to undergo a not less stringent examination than former contin-

gents. Indeed, we are given to understand that the medical examination was particularly searching, and that the determination of the authorities to maintain the high standard of height and chest measure-

ments is responsible for the somewhat unusual proportion of rejections. This last explanation is weiciome as an assurance that we are sending- a picked lot of men to the front. It is well that we should send our best. The Eighth have not only their own reputation to make but that of their predecessors to maintain, and the work before them now that the war, as we hope, is drawing to an end is not, in many respects, less arduous than that which those earlier in the field had to tackle. More than ever, perhaps, the ready rider with something of the natural bushman's instinct for finding- his way and taking cover quickly is needed to cope with the desperate ■guerilla fighters who now represent the scattered Boer forces. Besides, for the colony's prestige, it would never do if this our latest contingent showed any falling off as compared with those we sent before. The least apparent decline would be interpreted ho mean either that New Zealand had exhausted her supply of first-class fighting material or, an even worse supposition, that our best had no stomach for the war. If ever a contingent went to South Africa as an advertisement for New Zealand the Eighth goes in that capacity; and it is nothing to our detriment or theirs to say so. We want the Mother Country, we want the world to know that this country has plenty to spare of that heart and sinew that made the Empire great, and how can we proclaim the fact more conclusively than by our readiness to contribute the flower Of our youth to the struggle? So much for the men as a whole. Now as to that section of th.em which has been chosen to exercise control over their fellows. A good deal Of dissatisfaction appears to exist with regard to the choice of officers. It is said that personal and political

influence have won for certain applicants what others mcire worthy and more efficient have been denied. Such complaints are, as a rule, to be listened to with car.tion. To begin with, the demand for commissions in the Eighth Avas unprecedented. Enough men applied to make up the full strength of the contingent twice over, and no doubt each one thought he had good claims to preferment. Hence, when the vast majority, found themselves left out there were bound

to be questionings as to the efficiency of those who were taken in and hints of favouritism. We trust sincerely for the credit of the authorities, and the future of the contingent, not less- than for the sake of

justice, that these hints are unwar- ! ranted. We hope that in the selecj tion of the. officers, just as much as in the selection of ■ the troopers, the one desire has been to secure the highest efficiency. There are undoubtedly difficulties in the way of selecting the officers which do not exist in the case of the men. The tape-measure and the stethoscope will give you a fairly accurate idea of a volunteer's physical condition, and your eyes will tell you how he shapes in the saddle or at the butts. But the qualities which go to make a successful leaaer of men, even in the saibordinate positions, are not so easily gauged.

We understand from the Premier that, in accordance with the wish of the Imperial authorities, preference was given, in the choice of officers, to those who had seen service in South Africa. This certainly simplified the task of those wlio did the choosing, and no doubt ensured a

certain competency in the men taken. Yet, even in the case o±' returned troopers, and still more in that of fresh volunteers, in picking the officers the selectors must often have been guided more by what they were told about the applicants than by what they actually knew of them, and it was thus impossible to exclude personal and political influence. • It is understood that the duty of re-

porting on the applications was referred by the Defence Minister to

the Acting - Commandant (Major Owen) and Lieut.-Colonel Davies, and the final selection should, we think, be largely influenced by the officer who is to have command of the contingent. He is bound to. be much more in touch with and to enjoy the confidence of those he has himself selected; and the fact that it is intended to keep the New Zealanders as; much as possible together in the

theatre of operations Is a strong reason wiry the New Zealander exercising authority over the men should have officers of his own choosing-, or in the selection of whom he had had at least a voice. This is our view of the case, a_.d we understand that it is the view Lieut.Colonel Davies holds too. Now that a majority of the officers of the Eighth have been chosen, it would be a certain hardship to them if they had to be passed in reviewagain, but that is a small matter compared with the importance of securing the best men, and no appointment should be considered confirmed until the officer who is tq take command has been consulted upon it.