APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS TO IIEIKFOROEMENT DRAM'S.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16590, 13 January 1916, Page 6

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS TO IIEIKFOROEMENT DRAM'S.

STATEMENT BY TH2S MINISTER. (Fbom Oub Own Coiiukspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 12. Some remarks o:i tho appointment of officers to tho reinforcements from the Territorial forces were made by the Minister of Defence to-day. Mr Allen referred especially to tho rule which makes it possible for young mon to get commissions in the reinforcements Ly serving' as commissioned officers in tiie Cadets or Territorials for six months. " AVe are not drawing very largely from tho Territorials now for our junior officers," said Mr Allen, " and I think that the present restrictions on tho appointment of commissioned officers will havo to bo extended. The six months probation us Territorial officers is, in my opinion, rather 100 short a time. I approved of tho original scheme by which wo brought in real Territorial officers who had served as such, but I have pretty considerable doubt ajbo.it officers coming to us now through the Senior Cadets and Territorial ranks, with only six months' service. I must say that I like our own scheme of promoting men through the non-commis-sioned ranks. AVe are trying now also to make arrangements to secure some commissions for returned soldiers who arc to go back to the front with the reinforcements. We are asking the G.O.C. in Egypt to alter tho rules in this respect."