MEDICAL STUDENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3006, 17 February 1917, Page 10

MEDICAL STUDENTS

Sir, —The statement of the Hon. Mr.Russell in to-da.v's paper seems to cast a reflection on these students. Anyone who knows anything about medical students will be certain that except mothers' darlings all were and are keen to enlist on and before attaining twenty years, except those just completing their course. Those of age last veai desired to enlist in a body, but wet e practically ordered not to do so. 3Uny did enlist, and were sent certificates of exemption. Can Mr. Russell explain why medical students, including first and second year men, were ordered back from tho. front, thus showing tho policy of tho Government now suddenly overturned ? The result of the policy _is that a first year student who attains twenty this year has lost £100 and a year's time, as there is no professional examination for tjvo years, and one year's work becomes worthless. Again, what are students to do who attain twenty between May and December. Are they to waste the time until they come of age to enlist, witli the chance of being then rejected as unfit, Could not arrangements be made to examine those students in June, so thatif unnt they could resume their studies ?-l am, etc., .