EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Evening Star, Issue 23816, 21 February 1941, Page 8

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

COMMISSIONING OVERSEAS PROMOTION OF TRAINED N.C.O'S [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 21. From now on comparatively lew appoainncnts to commissioned rank in the Expeditionary Force will be made in New Zealand. iVJajor-general Sir John Dnigun said the Expeditionary Force and certain subsequent reinforcements had been sent away with a full establishment of officers, but from now on n reduced number of commissioned ranks would be scut because promotions would be made by the G.0.C., .Major-general Freyherg, from n.c.o.s passed out from the officer cadet training unit established by him in Egypt. “ This is only as it should be,” said Major-general Duigan. “It is onlyright that- n.c.o.s who have undergone intensive training for months and, in some cases, a year, should be given the opportunity of going further. The men selected in New Zealand to proceed overseas as n.c.o.s will be of a high standard and have received a great deal of training here before leaving the country.” Having recently completed a tour ot inspection of certain military establishments in Neiv Zealand, Major-General Duigan said they compared more than favourably with similar camps he saw during liis visit to India, the Middle East, and Australia. He was satisfied that New- Zealand had nothing to learn from other countries about the construction of military camps.