GRANTING OF COMMISSIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 964, 14 March 1917, Page 4

GRANTING OF COMMISSIONS.

NEW SYSTEM ADOPTED. (Special to The Son.] WELLINGTON, March 13. Ever since our troops have been on active service there have been complaints that the men at the front have not been getting a fair deal in the matter of promotions to commissioned rank. The authorities have modified their attitude somewhat in recent months, and openings are now made for a larger number of men on service to rise from the ranks. Some of them get commissions in the field, and others are sent back to this country to take commissions in reinforcements going forward. The conditions under which these commissions are granted, however, are still accounted somewhat hard upon the men who have borne the heat and burden. After having yarned by merit the recommendation for promotion, a man has to come back to his own country, there to find that he has to submit to a long period of training in the rudiments of the soldier's craft, and this, after an intimate acquaintance with the real thing, is galling to a proud man. The military people say that it is essential that men who have risen from the ranks must have special training before being entrusted with authority as commissioned officers, anil the man who will have stars must submit. The method of procedure is to be altered shortly, but the alteration proposed gives but poor solace to the man who has won his spurs. Instead of being trained in New Zealand he will have to go to an officers' training school in England, but he will still have to come to New Zealand to receive his command. The only difference will be that he will be allowed to wear a Sam Browne belt on the voyage out.