MEDICALLY UNFIT RECRUITS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 21 December 1916, Page 8

MEDICALLY UNFIT RECRUITS.

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

(BY TELEGEAPH —PKESS ASSOCIATION). AUCKLAND, Dee. 20. An important statement dealing with the recruiting of men for the Expeditionary Forces reinforcements was made to-day by the Minister for Defence. It refers particularly to men who have already enlisted for service, but haVe been, rejected owing to medical unfitness. . . . ■ .

, "The Defence Department would be glad,',' said the Minister, '"'if men in the First Division who.kave in the past volunteered for the Expeditionary Forces, and have been passed out as i/edically unfit; would volunteer for r.'H'vice again. All who so volunteer w ill have to attest. They will be examined'by the Medical Board, and, if passed by this board as medically unfit, their names will not be included in the. ballot, but will, be placed upon the reserves Hst. Some of these men will be invited to volunteer for home ser--ioe in the training camps if they could satisfactorily take up work whicK is now Mug done by some of the staff in the camr»s ; who might thus ba let away for service. Those who are passed t>y the Medical Board as fit. for service would be invited to one or other cf the hgjst twg reinforcements. It has been fou'nu necessary to adopt this practice in. order to relieve the First Division of the Reserve "of a considerable number of names of those who are medically unfit,and have previously volunteered. _ Iri a word, the practice is adopted' in order, to some extent, at any rate, to; clear the rolls and to avoid* unnecessary trouble in regard to the ballot.1 This invitation to men who have already enlisted, but not been accepted, on account of medical unfitness, is offered to No. 1 Group first," added Mr Allen. "The idea is to extend the principle as the department is in a position: to do so. I hope all Recruiting Committees and Patriotic Societies in . 3s&,_i-Group will assis'C to" theibest "of their ability, in inducing these men to come forward and enlist at once." >■..