DISCHARGE OF OFFICERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23945, 12 May 1943, Page 2

DISCHARGE OF OFFICERS

ARMY STATEMENT CHALLENGED (0.R.) OAMARU, May 11, ‘T wish most emphatically to refute, as one fully informed, the statement in ‘The Press’ to-day by an Army spokesman at Southern Military District headquarters on the question of the discharge of officers, the reason for same, and the manner thereof," said Mr G. Cuttriss, a member of the Returned Services’ Association, when making a press statement to-day, Mr Cuttriss introduced the subject at the annual meeting of the Oamaru Returned Services’ Association. “While I agree with the necessity fof some reorganisation of administrative personnel, now that the major ballots have been completed, I have evidence which leads me to believe that in certain instances this retrenchment, has been made an occasion for victimisation.” said Mr Cuttriss. “and in view of all the facts, as I know’ them, it is absurd for the Southern Military District spokesman to say that those officers w'ith jobs to go to were released first. It would have been more correct to say that those with no jobs to go to w'ere released immediately, as has been the case in Oamaru. notwithstanding the long records of honourable service of the men concerned “The spokesman rightly says there was no slur on the officers concerned in referring the matter to the manpower officers,” continued Mr Cuttriss, "but in the Oamaru cases the officers were instructed to report to the manpower oltU v cer, and one of them was actius#} walking the streets, looking for jwo;;s j when he received his direction!® appL/j to the manpower officer. •This was tSe form his rehabilitation took.” / The statement that the discharge notification went to the Area Officer, "who would adopt the usual way of informing the officers concerned.” was ' also commented upon by Mr Cuttriss, who said emphatically that the notification came in the form of an Army memorandum, addressed "Sub-Area 11.” and was opened by the clerk, Who thus informed his commanding officer and also the assistant to the commanding officer of the memorandum, ahd they had to inform themselves, 6$ they were the officers concerned. “No one expects the Army to write ‘long and flowery letters.’” concluded Mr Cuttriss, “but we do expect reasonable intelligence in the release of men and fair play and full realisation of the responsibilities of the rehabilitation w* hear so much about." The discharge of officers which was the subject of a resolution at the annual meeting, came before the executive of the Oamaru Returned Services' Association this evening. After a long discussion taken in committee, a motion w'as carried stating that the executive had no comment to make pdndinl the result of the deputation to Lieuten- 1 ant-General E. Puttick and the Hon A. H. Nordmeyer.