DISCOURAGING RECRUITS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16992, 20 October 1915, Page 8

DISCOURAGING RECRUITS.

DELAYS AFTER OPERATIONS.

CASES IN CHRISTCHURCH,

A case was reported to the Citizens' Defence Corps Committee yesterday, by Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., of a man who had passed the necessary medical examination, except for a slight operation for hernia. The operation was undertaken, and the man imagined that it would not bo long before he was accepted in camp, but he was now informecf that he would have to stand down for six months. At present ho could not do any work involving lifting. Air J. D. Million said that the Oiti-

zens' Defence Corps had secured suitable work for tho man with Messrs P. and D. i>uiican, who had' been very good in placing men similarly situated. Mr O. T. J. Alpers said that ho knew of a person who had discovered for tho first, time in his life that he had hernia, and he was advised to have an operation. This he had done, and after six weeks presented himself as ho as ever, but he was told that he must stand down for six months. Dr Thacker said that what Mr Alpers and Mr Isitt had said had been occurring. For trifling objections men had been put down.. Now that he was in Christchurch ho would .make the offer that he would use his surgical skill if necessary on any mau who Had been turned down, and womd see that he had a fair deal in trying to get to Wellington. Too many men had been rejects for a small varicocele or u small varicose vein, which was a mere detail as far as surgery was concerned, and men should not be discouraged tor such details. In a local camp thore would be gentle work to do, and a month or three weeks after an operation a man would be able to d'o light work. Ho hoped that the Citizens Defenco Corps rooms could be used for returned men to register complaints. The Department was shutting down on those men, who wore being given temporary discharges, and had nothing to live on. .... , Mr Harper said that the Citizens Defence Corps had agreed to receive a deputation of returned soldiers who had grievances to ventilate. A regis ter was already kept, and every man on his arrival received a card stating what services the Citizens' DefenceCorps would perform. Mr J. D. Milton said that very few complaints had been received, but he presumed that since the wages were stopped tho men were beginning to feci the pinch..