Physical Standard Of Recruits

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 307, 25 September 1939, Page 11

Physical Standard Of Recruits

Sir,—l am taking the liberty of writing in tlie hope that some more able pen will take up a subject which is seriously engaging the attention of every patriotic citizen, viz., the comparatively small percentage of our recent recruits who are being accepted as physically tit. The main cause of failure to pass appears to be dental defects, and I make bold to ask a question which is in many minds, “Are not the military authorities setting too severe a test?” Are they not running a serious risk of killing tlie splendid spirit of patriotism which prompted such a healthy, full-blooded response to the appeal made by the Minister of Defence for recruits for the special force? . The Defence Department admits that the Main Body of the N.Z.E.F. in the Great War were a fine lot of men physically, yet I am given, to understand that the “test” today is even more severe than it was then, but. why should it be? I was, fortunately, one of the first 12 to be passed as fit for the Alain Body camp at Tahuna Park in Dunedin, and, on the evening of our medical examination saw splendid physical specimens, football mates and members of the Otago Hussars turned down owing to slight dental defects, many of them going with later reinforcements. I know of two men here in Otaki one an officer, who are perfect physically, vet one failed to pass because his teeth, though perfectly sound, were spaced too far apart; the other mail, a fit, rugged bushman, turned down .because he had a slightly “under-shut” lower jaw. I have recently taken an active interest in recruiting in the North Island, and so have a fair idea of the minds of the youth of New Zealand, and 1 am quite convinced that nothing will tend more to kill their splendid spirit of patriotic volunteering than the thought that they may be turned down owing to some comparatively trivial defect, I feel that I am voicing the opinion of manv enthusiastic patriots in appealin'* to the Defence authorities to “ease up” on the test, as I feel that they can do it without risking the standard omen they require.—l am, etc., 9/12 MAIN BODY. Otaki, September .22.