37TH N.C.O. CLASS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9825, 23 November 1917, Page 3

37TH N.C.O. CLASS

SIXTY-EIGHT MEN REDUCED OWING TO REDUCTION OF REINFORCEMENT QUOTA. STATEMENT BY GENERAL ROBIN. Owing to the reduction in the reinforcement quota, the Defence Department, unfortunately, hare been compelled to reduce to the ranks approximately 68 men of the 3ith non-com-missioned officers’ class. This naturally led to a certain amount tof dissatisfaction, and at the request of the Minister for Defence, the following explanatory statement with regard to the position has been made to him by Major-General Sir A. IV. Robin (General Officer Commanding the Now Zealand Defence Forces):

“In consequence of the reduction in infantry reinforcements and the corresponding reduction oi v the number of non-commissioned officers required, it was necessary, owing to there being two classes of non-commissioned officers in excess of requirements, to reduco the number to normal. To effect this, it was necessary to select the most efficient probationary non-commissioned officers and transfer them back to a later non-commissioned officers’ class, the weaker probationary non-commis-sioned officers being reverted to the ranks and posted to the 31st and 32nd reinforcement drafts as privates in order to complete the shortutgos. As those men had ooniplcted one month’s training as privates and five weeks in the non-commissioned officers’ class, making a total of nine weeks’ training, it was considered that they were sufficiently trained to be posted to the drafts named. . Tho Camp Adjutant explained the reason of the reversions and transfers to the officers commanding companies. A few men who were not satisfied brought their cases forward through their company commander, which cases were satisfactorily explained. There is no reason why any of tho remainder, if not satisfied, should not have adopted this correct military procedure. Temporary noncommissioned offioers so reverted do nopt receive corporal’s pay for tho period they were in the non-commis-sioned officers’ class, as this is not allowable by the regulations. Paragraph 45, ‘E.F. Army pay form 78, instructions relating to pay duties,’ reads as follows: ‘The pay of non-commissioned officers on probation will be that of privates at Expeditionary Force rates for the first month in camp. At tho expiration of that period, and on confirmation through routine orders of appointment as corporal, tho hack pay of this rank will be drawn. The probationary non-commissioned officer will then receive .pay as corporal until further temporary promotion, when tho higher rate of pay will oomo into force from tho date of such promotion.' ”