TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 11 May 1918, Page 8

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

TAKEN INTO CAMP AT LOWER RANK.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS LIKELY

BY TELBGRAFH —PRBS?- ASSOCIATION

| WELLINGTON, May 11. i The position of territorial officers ;. who have been taken into camp and given lower rank than they previously held, and which is understood to have created considerable irritation, was discussed by the Defence Commission yesterday. Asked if he did not think an error had been committed in taking ' this action. Sir A. Robin said that it was not admitted that an error was committed, as the situation was. forced by the provisions^ of the Military Service Act, which is not a fespector of persons in its insistence that every fit man must proceed abroad when his lurn comes. The Military Service Act had the effect of throwing a surplus of inexperienced officers on our hands, and legal difficulties involved in reconciling the provisions of the Military Service Act with the necessity for respecting the King' 8 commission, if possible, caused unavoidable delay regarding these officers' disposal. This problem exists in other parts of the Empire, as applications are being received asking for employment here, the applicants stating that they are surplus in their own dominions. Continuing, Sir A. Robin added: "A decision has now been come to that these men will have to go into camp as sergeants by the middle of the month." It is understood that the party of officers have made their arrangements j for such a contingency as has arisen. They have been legally advised that they must be given commissioned rank, and that they cannot be deprived of their commissions excpt as the result of a court-martial. They will probably fight the authorities, and there will be I some legal proceedings.