NO HEIGHT STANDARD

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 11

NO HEIGHT STANDARD

QUALIFICATION FOR TERRITORIALS [Per Dnited Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 21. When the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) made his original appeal for recruits for the military forces, army headquarters issued a poster setting out the conditions of service in the regular force, the Territorial special reserve, the Territorial force, and the national military reserve. The poster, which was displayed in all post offices, stated that recruits for the regular force had to be not less than sft Sin in height, and recruits for the Territorial special reserve not less than sft 7in. The inclusion of this information in tho poster, which also appealed for recruits for the Territorial force, had apparently caused some misunderstanding, said Major G. H. Clifton, secretary of the Army Recruiting Committee, todav. He had received a considerable number of letters asking why Territorial recruits were required to be sft Tin in height, and it was a most important point to be cleared up. There was no height limit for the Territorial force in general, but most units laid down a limit of sft 4in. The acceptance of recruits was based on their general physique and mental ability, Major Clifton said. He hoped that anyone who had been sensitive about offering his services because he was not sft Tin in height would now come forward. He could appreciate their feelings, as he was below that height standard himself.