PROMOTIONS AT THE FRONT

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 42

PROMOTIONS AT THE FRONT

REPLY TO CRITICISM Recently Mr Parr" asked the Minister «f Defence whether he was aware that experienced, capable, and deserving 1 Main Body men were being passed over at the front for non-commissioned promotions, and new and inexperienced men placed over the old units, and, if eo, would he indicate what steps he proposed to take to allay discontent under the present system. Sir James Allen has replied that the originrl system, which was initiated by the Defence Department in New Zealand, and •which remained in force for over two years of the war, was that all N.C.O.'s of reinforcement drafts reverted to the rank of private on ceasing to belong to such drafts. Subsequently, as a result of recommendations received from France and the United Kingdom it was agreed that N.0.0.'s of reinforcement drafts should revert to the next lowest grade on arrival in the United Kingdom. It was understood that the present system wao to put all N.C.O.'s after arrival in the United Kingdom, and after reverting one step through a training school for N.C.O.'s. Any man who did not do well was then reverted further to the rank of private. This system had been instituted by officers who knew what their requirements for war were, and therefore, in their opinion, likely to produce the best results. He could not agree to interfere in the matter with those responsible for the system, who were in a better position to judge than we were here.