FOR INDIAN ARMY?

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 3, 3 July 1943, Page 7

FOR INDIAN ARMY?

FORMER N.Z. OFFICERS

A suggestion that a large number of the young officers who were recently askedfttd^relinquish their commissions and, gO'.-overseas •as n.c.o.s should be given the opportunity to join the Indian Army*: was made by Mr. J. A. McL. Roy'(National, Clutha) in the discussionv on the. Estimates* in ■■ the House of;;- Representatives noon. .• ■•• '>'"■;■■:"• '-i■ : :'■ ".••:, "-\ . ' . Mr/ Roy said there were close on one youngs men who had eai'iied their commissions, and in a majority of cases they, had been held back t-gainst their will." They were put: in a very humiliating" position, partiCularly in some cases, and he knew of'one man who had been-held back as an instructor, and' who on going would be very much junior ■fo men he' had. trained. He did not say that, those men should go overseas into the New Zealand divisions because he agreed it was a sound principle that the divisions wanted to promote their own n.c.o.s. . However, he understood there would be openings for such men in.the Indian Army. He realised that such a step wduld. reduce the numbers overseas, but taking, the principle, into account he _elt that one aspect outweighed the other. He understood that New Zealanders already in the Indian Army haa* giyeii a'good account of themselves,for the young New Zealander wiis-fltted to command and lead troops ixfrthe field. ■?/: '] A DEFFICTJI-T PROBLEM. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) said it' was physically impossible to use all the men who had Qualified as officers. He understood the number affected-was 740. New Zealand had certain commitments in certain places, and arrangements had been made that a certain proportion from the men in the field should be trained as officers. Everyone would agree with that. That meant that only a small proportion must go forward from New Zealand, and it was therefore impossible to find places for all the officers who had been trained here. ..Not, only lieutenants and second lieutenants were affected; he knew of majors and captains going away as sergeants. It was really a difficult matter. He did not think that because a person had been trained,as an officer he should necessarily retain his rank. . Mr. Roy said he did not suggest that. . ; ■ Referring to Mr, Roy's suggestion of the possible use of these young officers in India, Mr. Nash said they had to take New. Zealand's own commitments into account. Those commitments had been readjusted considerably, and he did not think they should let any qualified'person go anywhere else when that might affect. meeting them. He thought that if these young officers had the competency they would quickly regain the. positions they had occupied here.