THE RECRUITING SYSTEM.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15316, 28 June 1915, Page 6

THE RECRUITING SYSTEM.

NOT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT «

RELIEF

MEDICAL TEvST DISCUSSED,

(STECIA.I.' TO "TBI PRSSS.") W_n_.INt.TOX, June 27. Soino comment on more recent complaints about tho working of our recruiting system were niacin by tho _-,_, James Alien (Defence Minister) yes. terday. "There arc men," Mr Allen said, "who complain that wo will not take them into camr> immediately after they eiili.*.t. when they arc out of work, and who say that they havo left their work to enlist. 1 am not saying for a moment that thero aro not cases of this kind, but. 1 do know that there are ca.se.. of another kind. I have one before mo now. This man was tent to mo by a public man in an important position, who Had beon told by this .-nan that ho had left work in order to enlist. This is the true story: The Hum admits that ho registered because ho was out of work, ana that ho is net out of work becauso ho registered. Tho staff say, and 1 quite agree with them, that men of this hind should not be given preference over men who hay« registered their names earlier thaa they. That is my view, and I 6t___d by that." "Air Allen also referred to the agitation in somo centres in favour of relaxing or varying the regulation* d-ILning the standard of physical fitness required for tho Expeditionary Forces. "Tho evidence given to mc," ho Said, "is that our medical test is not too hi_h but that if anything it is toe: low. Tho proof of that is that men who have come into camp and undergone a part of their training aro cjis*~ covered, after the Government has had all the-'expeaso of bringing thorn into camp and feeding ami training and paying them there, to "c medically unlit. Some actually get through tho camp, and are proved °n tho transports to be unlit. It is wasto of t_ma> and money to take men liko this into camp and*then find that they aro ttOfit to scud to tho front. This hap-: pons with our nresent medical test, w that it cannot, be snid ... bo too high.: We want men who remain ef&cien*., until they get to tho front."