CHARACTER IN THE ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16850, 15 May 1918, Page 8

CHARACTER IN THE ARMY.

LONG SERVICE ESSENTIAL. [VX TEtEORiPH.OWN COBBESPOOTJENT.] T' ' *' WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Eviraaras concerning the conduct sheets given to men on their discharge from the forces was given by Major John H. Bartlett, Cfeputy-director of Base Records, before' the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day. He said that under the regulations a man had -to have two and a-haif years' service to entitle him to a very good character, and that with less service he could only secure a good character, , The Chairman : Do you think that is fair; The Witness : Not entirely, but there must be a line on which to base the record of service. Character, he added "was assessed over the whole period, both before and after going to the front. It was now suggested that the certificate should bear on its face a statement Bhowing the period of service required to qualify for a good or very good character. The Chairman : Don't yon think that we are too much inclined to bow down to the King s Regulations, which are utterlv ridiculous as far as the Dominion force us concerned ?

The Witness: We are guided by them, but do not follow them altogether. The chairman said the trouble was that a man who went away to the front and was wounded in a couple of months, and came back could only have a good certificate, while a man who served on a soft job for' two and a-h&lf years could get a very good certificate.