THE REINFORCEMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1917, Page 5

THE REINFORCEMENTS

TRAINING FIR COMMISSIONS

NEW y 1 ETIH)! ) ADOPTED

WELLINGTON, March 14. A. charge is contemplated in the method of* training those non-commhs-sioned officers recommended in the field for commissions in New Zealand Reinforcements. Under the system as it exists at present, these non-commis-sioned officers have to come back to New Zealand, undergo a special course of training in the camps here, and assist in the training of the draft with which thev are to go forward. It is now proposed that men recommended for commissions at the front shall be trained in England and sent back to New Zealand as officers already commissioned to take their places in reinforcement drafts. Probably officers trained at Home in this way will not hum-miml to stay so long in New Zealand as the men hitherto sent back have had to stav. The extent to which it will be possible or advisable to cut .town the period of training heie l« a iea*ter for the Staff to decide., _ It seems to be regarded as essential that the men shall come back. lae coinfoi'-emcnts have to be sent away f,. on here officered, and if is considered important that the new officers shall | !avo ~,, opportunity of getting to know tii" troops under their command hefore leaving with them for the iron',. **