ARMY OFFICERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 156, 3 July 1940, Page 17

ARMY OFFICERS.

"NO CLASS PRIVILEGE"

NEW SYSTEM OPERATING.

LABOUR JOURNALS COMMENT,

Under the title "Democracy in the Army," the "Standard," official organ of the Labour party, has the following comment to make on the appointment of officers to commissions:—

• "Xo influence of class or privilege operate in the selection of officers for New Zealand's military forces. A very complete measure of democracy was put into operation this week with a scheme under which every recruit entering camp will have equal opportunity to gain promotion to the non-commissioned and commissioned ranks.

"On Monday there jjaraded at Trentham for posting to their training units men chosen from the ranks of thß Third Echelon and the Third Reinforcements for training as 'non-coms' for the Fourth Reinforcements, and officers for the Fifth.

"The general policy is that future officers and 'non-coms' will be appointed from candidates.selected from the ranks of future reinforcements after a short preliminary period in camp, during which unit commanders will search' Out their most promising men. To enable this to he done the reinforcements will take sufficient additional personnel into camp with them.

"Candidates so selected will transfer to the Central Military District School of Tnstrulction, where a* further selection will br> made of those deemed best suited for training, as officers. Those remaining in the Central District School will be trained for appointment as non-commis-sioned officers, for ,the next reinforcements to enter, camp:"