SURPLUS OFFICERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 43

SURPLUS OFFICERS

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S DILEMMA.

FURTHER TROUBLE PROBABLE. (Fbou Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 10. It appears that at last the Defence authorities have arrived at a decision regarding the officers who were called into camp in the middlo of last year. They were Territorial officers of tho First Division of the Expeditionary Forco Reserve who had not answered the call for volunteers, and they were oalled in as conscripts. To the dismay of tho authorities they came into camp wearing thoir badges of rank, and they refused to take them off. Very early in the argument it was learned by the authorities and, by the publio that they had taken legal advice, and that they had come to a decision that if they were not allowed to hold their commissions thoy would fight. They havo up til* the present fought successfully, and the country has paid out to them A-300C in pay for no services at all, most of the money having been paid for leave with Pay.

The matter was raised in a series of questions before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day. The question addressed to General Robin was: "It is reported that about tho middle of 1917 soma 60 or 70 officers, mainly Territorials, were taken into camp for whom commissions in the Expeditionary Forco could not be found,If this statement is correct please explain—• (a), how this state of affairs arose? (b) was employment found for these officers and on what duty? (c) were they discharged! or granted leave —if the latter, was it with or without pay? (d), how much thi» error, if committed, cost? (e), what is tho present position of the matter?"

General Bobin submitted a written reply to the question as follows:—"The question is merely one of supply and demand. We have available a number of Territorial officers who lack experience in the present war, for whom vacancies cannot be found in the reinforcement drafts. The number of officers involved is really 42, whioh represents the balance of two classes drawn from 63 officers who were mobilised in July and August, 1917, for a special course of training. As the result of this course 20 candidates were selected from amonjr those who gained the highest marks, the remainder being given leave, as they objected to the conditions under which, they were called to camp—that if they were found unsuitable or if no vaoanoies existed for their appointment to the Expeditionary Force with commissioned rank, they would bo reverted temporarily for service in the Expeditionary Force as n.0.0.'5. The question is a matter of policy, and is now under consideration. The officers were ia the first plaoe granted leave without pay, but as a solution of the problem could not bo found and the officers were without means, pay was issued from time to time. Up to March 9, 1918, no employment was found for these officers. As it was impossible to foresee when this question would be settled and leave was granted for short periods they were not sent back to camp', for the reason that their presence there created discontent, which was apt to depreciate the value of their own and their comrades' training. Their pay while on leave amounted to £2966. It is not admitted that an error was committed, as the situation was forced on by the provisions of the Military Service Act, which is no respecter of persons in its insistence that every fit man must proceed abroad when his time coines. The Military Service Act had the enect of throwing a surplus of inexperienced officers on our hands, and the legal difficulties involved in reconciling the provisions of the Military Service Act with the necessity for respecting the King's commission, if possible, caused unavoidable delay regarding these officers' disposal. This problem exists in other parts of the Empire, as applications are being received asking for employment here, the applicants stating that they are surplus in their own dominions. Since this answer was written a decision has been come to. The men will have to come into camp as sergeants in the middle of this month." General Anderson (chairman of the commission) said he appreciated the difficulty of the situation, but they must be funny sorts of chaps. After they had had all the swank of being officers in peace times they would not fight in time of war unless on their own terms. What if these young men would not go as sergeants? They had their commissions. \

General Robin said they -would be prosecuted as deserters. This was the last offer, for them, and if they did not come in us sergeants they would have to coma in as deserters.

General Anderson : The pathetic thing is that these young fellows should force such, a situation on the Government. No further reference was made to the matter at the commission.

It is understood that the party of officers concerned have made their arrangements for just such a contingency as has arisen. They have been legally advised that they must be given commissioned rank and that) they cannot be denrived of their commissions except as the result of a courtmartial. Thev will probably fight the authorities, and there will bo some legal proceedings.