DOCTORS TOO TIRED!

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1942, Page 1

DOCTORS TOO TIRED!

To Examine Recruits

COUNTRY MEN LOSE WORK.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 21. To be brought into Christchurch from places as far afield as Methven, which is 58 miles from Christchurch, for their army medical examination, and then told to come back noxt week beqause the doctors had ceased work at midday, was the experience of five country workers on Wednesday. Only seven men remained to be' attended to when they were told that they could not be examined that day. The men told their story, while waiting at the Post Office to cash their official vouchers for pay and travelling expenses. They said that, when the Medical Board ceased work for the day, seven men remained to be examined, of these seven, five were from the country and only two were from the city. They were rather amused at their experience, though it meant their losing a day’s work. ,

When the statement made by the recruits was referred to Army officers at Area Records Office, they said that was a matter for the Health Department, which arranged the sittings of the Medical Boards, through the Regional Deputy. (Dr. C. T. Hand Newton). The Armys’ duty was to arrange for men to attend the sittings of the Boards. “If more men are called up for medical examination than the doctors can examine in the .time, the examination of some must be postponed to another occasion,” said Dr. Hand Newton, when invited to comment on the statements made.