THE OVERSEAS FORCE

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13594, 8 October 1914, Page 5

THE OVERSEAS FORCE

MINISTER OF DEFENCE

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Wellington, Oct. 7

The reason for differences between equipment allowances to; officers and non-commissioned officers-of the Expeditionary Force were explained by the Minister of Defence in- the House of Representatives. ; /■'- In reply to Mr Glover, the Minister states that non-commissioned officers of the New Zealand. Permanent Staff are granted an outfit allowance of £5 on joining the service, with an additional £2 10? per annum for upkeep of uniform. This JE2 10s per annum is payable to all members of the Pormanent Staff yearly in advance. Army equipment * required by these men ■to proceed with the Expeditionary Force is supplied Jrom the Defence Stores free of charge. Officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps provide their own uniform and equipment, and, as the full equipment for officers on active service especially runs into a considerable sum, an outfit grant of £20 was allowed to officers for whom no provision had previously been made. In ca&os where uniforms had been ' supplied or provision made for uniforms this "was to be deducted from the- £20. Ansiverincr another question, by Mr Glover the-Minister quoted the ■Defence -Regulations. ,An officer whose _turn for promotion occurs whilst he :s on active service, or whilst he is medically unfit by reason- of wounds or disease contracted on -aotivo.. service, v.ill he

promoted without examination. Tho Minister adds* that officers in New Zealand whose names wore registered for the cancelled examination in September, arid whsoe turn for promotion gocurs before the next examination i.-s held, will be promoted provisionally, but will eventually have to. sit for tho examination.

Answering Mr Glover's suggestion tliat the New Zealand Expeditionary Force officers arc paid higher and the men lower rates than their Australian comrades, Mr Allen declares that our officers are paid considerably less than f th© Commonwealth officers. Privates are paid at the same rates, excepting the one shilling deferred pay, which the Commonwealth private cinnot allot. The reason why tho paHimcnt certificates of discharge were not issued to troopers refcurned vfrom Samoa at the time was because they had not been printed. They came to hand, however, shortly alter wards, and were, complet:od and issued to the men concerned. These men, if they belong to the Territorials^ arc in the sam^ position as other Territorials, anil there is no reason why they should not seek employment. On the contrary, they ougbl- to make every effort to secure employment, stated the Minister of Defence. Tn reply to Mr Glover, the Minister of Defence states-.-^hat there is a noncommissioned officers' mess on each troopship.. The inon-eommissioraed officers are also provided wifcli separate bunks away from the men, but for discipline purposes there is a small sprinkling of non-commissioned officers' bunks here and there among tho men's.