DEFENCE STAFF.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 164, 11 July 1919, Page 6

DEFENCE STAFF.

THE REPLACEMENT POLICY. TEMPORARY MEN AND RETURNED SOLDIERS. (Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Instructions are being issued from Defence Headquarters to all ollicers commanding districts and heads of branches to dispense with the services of all temporary home service ollicers and men, unmarried men being first demobilised. It is the policy of the Department to reduce the number of employed officers and men on home service, and to give opportunities to a number of men who have seen active service, but the headquarters instructions sound a note of caution to returned soldiers, who should be discouraged from taking up temporary employment in the defence service, as it is considered that their best interests would bo served by embarking in a civil career. Therefore they should be advised and helped to obtain permanent employment in civil life. The temporary men, who in most cases have been rejected for active service, have endeavoured to "do their bit" in the Department during the war, and their patriotic spirit can now be further shown by making room for those who have seen active service, and wish to continue in the employ of the Defence Department. It is believed that the changes to be brought about will be received in this spirit, and that they will be carried out smoothly, with the minimum of hardship to those who are displaced. Temporarily employed ollircrs who belong to the Civil service are to be released at once, and where a permanent ollicer of the Defence Department it- not available to replace them, a returned X.Z.K.F. officer will be temporarily placed in their position. The instructions state:—"There are a number o! men temporarily employed as soldiers in the various departments of Defence whose duties could equally well be performed by men in a civil capacity. The necessity for keeping such men in uniform no longer exists, therefore tliey should be demilitarised, and in the case of Home 'Service men be replaced by returned soldiers, where 6iich are available." Oilicers commanding districts and all defence oflicers are advised in Head-, quarters instructions to work in close co-operation with tile Returned Soldiers Association, the Repatriation Department, and other organisations engaged in the work of the civil re-establishment of returned soldiers, and to render them every assistance ii. their power. Individual cases of hardship which come under otlicial notice should be submitted to the secretary of the local Returned Soldiers' Association, and a statement of the case forwarded to the ollicer commanding the district. It is notified that permanent appointments to the New Zealand Staff Corps will not be made until demobilisation is completed. The number of vacancies will not be large, and a Selection Hoard will ultimately be set up to consider each application. Defence officers are instructed to give every consideration to the applications of disabled soldiers who cannot follow their former " avocation, though it is pointed out that such men should be given employment in civil life which will ensure them a good career, with prospects of advancement. However", when difficulties in this respect exii-t, and there are suitable vacancies in the Defence Department, ollicers concerned are directed to ill I the positions accordingly. Permanent clerical appointments to the Defence Department are subject to the Public Service Commissioners' regulations regarding educational and other qualifications.