SOLDIER CLERKS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16289, 13 August 1918, Page 6

SOLDIER CLERKS.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S

VIEWPOINT.

(SPECIAL TO "THE raESS.")

WELLINGTON, August 12. One of the points which the Deieuce Commission was at somo pains to make was that it was not good business to dress in khaki clerks in war branches of the Defence Department and pay them according to rank. The contention of the Department is that this is necossary for disciplinary reasons. This may not appeal to vne private employer of labour as a good or sufficient reason, especially as the ciorks are not generally of good quality, .but the alternative facing the Department is not that' between soldier clerks and civilian clerks* under conditions such as those which might obtain in private employ. If these men were not classed as soldiers, they Would bo -unddr the Publio Service Commissioners, and the control of the Commissioners over the Service is i'ar too easy for real t'iscipline. A man cannot be "sacked" bv the Commissioner for inability to" do his worK unless it can be shc*nt that his inability is. due to his own fault—da--?, for instance, to drunkenness. While a man refrains from getting /ory drunk quite often, and reframß from committing a crime, he cannot bo discharged from the service. Thore is also the question of overtime. illn soldiers are not paid overtime, but clerus under civilian control would oe entitled to it.

question is now being considered by the Department, but it is improbable that anv change will be made from military to civil control.