PROMOTION FROM THE RANKS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 156, 1 July 1916, Page 5

PROMOTION FROM THE RANKS

RETURNED MEN'S COMPLAINTS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. In the House of Representatives to day Mr. Jennings asked the Minister for Defence why it was that a number of men who had been promoted to be sergeants at GaUipoli had never received their extra pay. He also complained, on behalf o£ non-commisioned men who had done good service at GaUipoli, and had passed their examinations for commisions in the Imperial Army, that they had been blocked from receiving commissions on the ground tnat'officers were short in the New Zealand forces. Mr. Anderson also referred, to the treatment of men who had returned to New Zealand to receive commissions. Complaints had reached him men were placed in a- junior position to men who had been promoted to commissioned rank in Egypt, after they left. Tlie Minister replied that if men were promoted they were invariably paid increased salaries. If, however, word of their promotion did not come to hand, delay might occur. As to the question of promotion to commissions in the Imperial army, it was true that our own forces had been short of officers, but that position had changed, and some time ago, the general officer at the front was authorised to recommend five New Zealanders for commissions in the Imperial Army every month. This was in operation since January last. Regularly five of our men had gone into the Imperial service, in addition to which something like twelve privates and non-commis-sioned men had been promoted to commisioned rank in our own forces. slr. Jennings reiterated his contention that men who had passed their examinations for commissions in the Imperial service Jiad not received, them.