MILITARY TRAINING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3828, 10 May 1913, Page 6

MILITARY TRAINING.

ONLY TWO-THIRDS SERVING

WHAT PROFESSOR MILLS SAYS

In the course of bis address at Wliinray’s Hall last evening, Professor W. T. Mills made the statement that only two-thirds of the physieallv fit men who were liable for training'under the Dominion Defence scheme wore really called on to train. A “Times” reporter saw the Professor after the meeting and asked if lie would care to amplify the statement and the organiser said'lie was quite prepared to do so. “I hold a letter,” he said, “written by the Defence Department to one of the medical men who acted as an inspector for the Department and examined'lads to determine their physical qualifications. The letter gave him instructions to correct his list and strike off one third oil those who had passed the test, because the authorities were only prepared to undertake the training of a certain number of men. This was deliberately making the hoys unfit who had already passed so as to reduce the number. It was deliberately cutting off tho lads, because they found they had more than they could train. This is why I made tho statement.”

The assertion that the physical test was raised is perfectly eerrect, but as to the proportion which was cut out as a result,' this was not ascertainable last night. ) . • v: