OFFICER STRENGTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 24, 29 January 1943, Page 4

OFFICER STRENGTH

ADJUSTMENT POLICY RETIREMENT OP OLDER MEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A' statement outlining the present policy in connection with army officer personnel has been issued by the Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones, in reply to points raised relating to the question of pruning the existing officer strength and the retirement of older officers. Mr. Jones said the army authorities had under consideration necessary adjustments to meet the changing conditions of the war situation. As the shortage of officers had been reduced, the time allotted for officer cadet training units had been increased and the training made more intensive and thorough.

With the change for the better in the Pacific and the temporary release of large numbers of men from the army for urgent seasonal work, the proportion of officers to men had become somewhat unbalanced, the Minister continued. The condition was not unwelcome in a way, as it had presented an opportunity for releasing a proportion of senior officers to go to the Staff College, Tactical School, and Armoured Fighting Vehicle School, and for many junior officers to receive advanced training at the army and district schools of instruction. All these training establishments had included on the staffs instructors with experience of the present war. With the return of officers from war service and the general improvement and qualification for promotion of middle rank younger officers as a result of continuous service, said Mr. Jones, it was possible to reduce the upper age limits for officers to a level more in keeping with the strenuous necessities of continuous or active service, thus following the practice common in all armies in wartime of giving young men every opportunity. Many officers released from full time service had taken up appointments in the Home Guard, where their services proved invaluable. As others were released it was hoped they, too, would continue service in the Home Guard.