THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 6

THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

FRICTION AMONGST OFFICERS.

THE NEW DIRECTOR OF

ARTILLERY

COLONEL HEAD’S POSITION

[Stecial to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Oct. 23

For some time past there lias been considerable friction amongst paid officers of the artillery branch of our defence force, and dissatisfaction in the various corps of both garrison and field artillery. Matters came to such a. press between Lieut.-Col-onel Head, the recently-appointed director who superseded Major Johnson', and the .next in command, Captain Richardson, that recently the latter was on the point of sending in liis resignation. He was, however, prevailed upon by friends not to do so. Previous to this, it is understood that there was some trouble between Colonel Head and Major Robinson, “Ti.E. (who recently returned to England), regarding the placing of new guns for harbor defence. It is now announced by the New Zealand Defence Council that “the duties of the director of ordnance will in future not include the training of garrison and field artillery volunteers. The training of these services will in future be .included in the schedule of duties allotted to the chief of the general staff.” Th “Dominion, ’’ referring to the position, says, “11ns notific.itio-n, on the face of it, appears to be merely a matter of domestic routine, of interest only to those immediately concerned, but to those who are more intimately interested in the ordnance branch of the service, and who have turned an- observing eye upon the events of the -last few” months, the paragraph has a deeper significance worthy of the serious attention of those who take a practical interest in the question of military defence. The announcement, in fact, raises the whole question of the value of the influence exerted in our military organisation by the imported Imperial officer. That the presence of a keen and energetic officer from the Imperial army can b a powerful factor m raising and maintaining the efficiency of our forces is an 'assertion which! will readily be admitted by any intelligent observer who noted the work of Major Johnson while director of artillery in New Zealand. The work of this officer during the term of Ins engagement with the New Zealand Government was beyond criticism, and when he returned to England the impress of his influence was very strongly marked on liis subordinates. This was notably so in the case of Ins chief instructor, Captain G. _G. Richardson, who was able as actingdirector of artillery to carry on the duties of his kite superior with marked success during the interregnum between the departure of Major Johnson and the advent of Lieut.Colonel 11. F. Head, the present director of artillery. The case ot Major- Johnson would seem to offer a very good argument for the continuance, by the Government, of a system of engaging Imperial officers were it not for the element of chance involved in the process of selection, this country being as likely to secure the services of an officer whose conservatism of mind, apathy, or inability to adapt himself to colonial conditions would tend to freeze the enthusiasm of his subordinates and discount the value of his military experience. It is an open secret that the present state of affairs in the ordnance branch of the defence forces leaves very much to be desired. The new director of ordnance, after five months’ service, is said to be dissatisfied with his position. He is obviously out of Touch with his command, and the removal from liis schedule of duties of that highly important department of his v stewardship, the training of the field and garrison artillery volunteers, is significant. It is common knowledge that the field and garrison artillery volunteers aro chafing under the apathy which characterises the new regime, and a change appears to he eminently desirable. Obviously, the present arrangement whereby the director of ordnance is relieved of those duties which really offer tho best justifica-

tion for his engagment is not a reasonable one, whatever redeeming feature it may possess as a compromise, for it must materially increase the work of some other officer without adequate recompense. The experience should not be without value to the powers that be, who have adopted a system as uncertain in its results as that very uncommercial transaction familiarly known, as' “buying a pig in q poke.” The more prudent course would bo to select from the rajnks of colonial officers those whose work has been unquestionably efficient and send them Home at intervals to broaden their military experience.”