NEW ZEALAND COMMISSIONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13049, 11 January 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND COMMISSIONS.

CLAIMS OF EXPERIENCED SOLDIERS.

'(Special, to the Press.) Auckland:, January 10. During his recent visit to tun Western front Mr C. J. Parr. M.P. for Eden, found: that many non-com-missioned officers who had seen service im Egypt and Gallipoli complained that, they were overlooked :in- the matter or granting commissions. The system, Mr Parr says, seemed to be that tnei young men with 110 military experience were sent from New Zealand with commissions, and men at the front with actual fighting knowledge were passed over. "For instance, Mr Parr continued, "I found' -three sergeants* in the trenches who had been; through Gallipoli, and had' served; three months 111 the trenches in France, each of whom appeared fully fitted to have received a. commission, yet they had been entirely overlooked. .1 both cabled and ■wrote to Mr Massey upon the -subject, and T have just received the following letter from the Prime Minister an rePJ "'l quite sympathise with what you ! say in. regard to the question of piomotion to commissions, and this matter has been, engaging my attention during my visit to England. I have, already conferred with -Generals Godley , "ittd Richardson, and I believe, as a result, something will''be done at once to do away, with the .grounds for complaint which existed. The question, though '»y 110 means ■in easv one is not msolvaole, and. I believe that cases such as you mentioned may easily be dealt "with upon fair .methods." have reason to believe, Mr Pan said "that all three ot those sergeants iiave since the visit of the Parliamentary 'party, received' their commissions.