RECRUITING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 125, 28 May 1915, Page 10

RECRUITING

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Several letters have appeared in The Post lately appealing to the Defence authorities to &ive the bantams a chance, but evidently we will have to make shift for ourselves if 'we wish to got into the firing line. It is a well-known fact that many men rejected in New Zealand on account of being slightly under the chest measurement have paid their passages to Sydney and been accepted. Surely the supply of men in New Zealand is not so large that the Government can afford to 1 lose many, to Australia's advantage It seems absurd for the Government to bo calling out for more recruits and talk of conscription while there are hundreds of i first-class men being " turned down " for [ the absurd reason' that they are under the j chest measurement. One would think that i military experience would count for J something, but evidently tho Defence people do not think so. I know of raraa cases whore men of long experience have been rejected in favour of men who have ■ hardly seen a rifle and do not know what discipline is. I think it is up to the Government to do something for us " bantams," or New Zealand will be losihg some of the best fighting material in the world. — I am, etc., TIPPERARY. [No doubt when the Defence authorities I find difficulty in getting men of tho standard at present required they will lower ] it, the same as has been done by tho British War Office. The standard is regulated by the supply, being heightened or lowered, as the case may be. As largo numbers of men will be required from New Zealand during the noxt twelve months there should therefore, be a chance for " the bantams " later on, and meanwhile they should wait in patience/)