COLONEL DAVIES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10591, 21 October 1910, Page 2

COLONEL DAVIES.

A FOUR YEARS' APPOINTMENT.

,MAY RETURN TO DOMINION

By Telegraph.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, October 20 Correspondence laid on the table of the House to-day shows that the apr pointment of Colonel R. H. Davies to tho command of the Sixth Infantry •Brigade at Aldershot as temporary Brigadier-General will take effect from October 16 for four years. - "I, take this opportunity," wrote Lord Crewe to Lord Islington on September 1, "of expressing the satisfaction of his Majesty's Government that they have been able to offer to an officer of the Dominion forces this important position, and their appreciation of the willingness of your Government that Colonel Davies should accept the post."

J The most interesting letter however is addressed by the High Commissioner (the Hon. W. Hall-Jones) to the Prime Minister: "I have the honor to state," it runs, "that Colonel Davies informs me that in accepting the command of a brigade there he has no intention, nor does he desire, to sever : his connection with -Now Zealand. Colonel Davies wishes to continue his payments to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund either upon his New Zealand rate of salary or upon that paid to him by the Imperial Government. He suggests that his position is similar to that of Colonel Godley, the recently-appointed Commandant, and states that Colonel Godley's services in the Dominion will count towards his pension in the regular army. The command of a brigade- here■: is an appointment for four years only. I promised Colonel Davies that I would, submit his ;views to you for the Government's consideration, and I shall be glad to convey the result of the communication to him."

The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), iu tabling the papers, stated that the matter had not been considered by Cabinet. The question of Colonel Davies remaining on the New Zealand Superannuation Fund was very important, and he could not give an'off-hand answer. The Government could not agree to any officer drawing the high Imperial rate of .pay being placed ( on the New Zealand Superannuation "Fund I on that basis. ■ Inquiries would be made to -see whether he could be continued on the basis df, his New Zealand salary. There was no arrangement regarding any exchange eo far as .Colonel Godley was concerned, and he wished to make it quite clear that New Zealand had no opportunities such as the Imperial., Government possessed of keeping positions open for 'officers w'ho took/up posts'in England. -