THE NEW COMMANDANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11783, 12 October 1901, Page 4

THE NEW COMMANDANT.

The cabled announcement that an officer of Major-General Babineton's reputation has accepted the appointment of Commandant of our Defence Force is a matter for congratulation. We must hope that nothing will intervene to prevent him from assuming the position and giving to our colony the benefit of his "wide experience. There can be no question as to the ability of our new commandant, whose military capacity and organising skill have been repeatedly tested and always found good. It will be strange if he is not able to work well with his subordinates. The doubtful point is whether he will work well with our little War Office, which unhappily seems to have developed the disease that affects the energies of its Imperial prototype. The obtuse ignoring of reasonable recommendations, the cull official pigeon-holing of important reports and the needless official interference with details of management, which have been so noticeable in our Defence Department, are not calculated to encourage any brilliant officer who strenuously endeavours to make his command a model of what colonial defence forces should be. Having secured Major-General Babington. it is the duty of the Government to give to him every reasonable opportunity and all possible assistance, so that when his engagement expires he may leave the colony satisfied with the results of his labours and with a more cordial memory of New Zealand methods and manners than some of his predecessors have probably carried with them.