PHYSICAL TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 55, 6 March 1916, Page 7

PHYSICAL TRAINING

FOR DEFECTIVE ENLISTERS.

Recently Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., wrote to the Minister of Defence enquiring whether the Government is prepared to provide facilities for a course of physical training to be given to men who upon application for enlistment have been rejected because of minor defects.

In reply the Minister writes:— "Ihave discussed this matter With the DirectorGeneral o£ Medical Services, who advises that there is no doubt that physical training does frequently enable undersized men in a longer or shorter time, to reach the standard suitable for recruiting. It is impossible, however, to state definitely that all men who undergo the training would, at the end of a certain time, say one month or two months, reach 'the required standard. Each case must be taken on its merits.

'T am afraid it would not be possible or expedient fc .- the Defence Department to establish a School of Physical Exercises for civilians in order to enable.them to leach recruiting standards. I think that any efforts in this direction should be made by the men themselves; they might perhaps enlist the assistance of the patriotic or recruiting committees in the work.''