MILITARY SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17390, 30 January 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE.

THE ACT IN OPERATION

VARIOUS POINTS DISCUSSED BY CORRESPONDENTS.

TO THK BDITOB. Sir,—ll r a qualified veterinary surgeon examined a horse for me, wiubu l tnougut of buying, and he reported the horse " not sounu/' that would be enough. But Ido not know how many time," the Government wants to pay tor examining rejected men. Wneu the Government medical man haa passed two brothers and rejected a third, ail of whom nad volunteered, tho latter was called up again under, tho -ballot and examined by two doctors, who passed him as ht, whereas he is_ no more iit than he was. The two brothers who passed did not, of course, dream of aypealing to another medical man or two. But if the Government could not accopt their own doctor's opinion for the latter, why should they the others? _ At Gisborne, on January 2-1, Captain Walker declared that " every man who was in the first division must know that in the courto of the next six or eig.it months he was bound to be called up. They would have to go into camp and take consequent financial loss, if any. The chairman said:—" We hope the Press will take notice of what Uaptam Walker has said in order that it may be disseminated among tho, public." Some time ago Mr Massey and MiAllen agreed that "the time had not yet come for the married'men." After the first division has all been called up, I suppose it will then be time for tha married men. If this is so, the sooner it is disseminated among the public the better. , „ The Government wants the farmers to increase the produce of tho country. How can they make business arrangements under such circumstances? If the Government sends rejected men into camp, and they break down, then the Government ought to be responsible for heavy damages and compensation. Considering the cost of every man, it is the" worst waste of men and money to compel unfit men to enlist. And when an honourable and competent medical man rejects a man, that ought to be sufficient to strike that man's name off tho ballot roll for good. (I do not mean the doctor's name). . I should like to know if, when a man is rejected by the doctor, his name continues to be balloted for each time afterwards^—l am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO.

ONLY FIT MEN CAN FIGHT. ; . "TO THE (feoiTOR.

Sir,—The. number of lit and unfit in the latest medical examinations has not been published, but reports from various sources suggest that the percentage of fit men has greatly increased. This state.of affairs calls for explanation, as A is not probable that the physique of our manhood has made such a sudden improvement. 1 know of several who were passed as physically fit, whereas they have suffered I with chronic ailments'for years. It is quite obvious that such men can only be a burden to the Defence authorities. Mine is not a singular experience, for one hears numerous expressions of surprise and disgust from people who are astonished with news that some acquaintance of theirs (whom they know to be a weakling) has been passed as fit for service. Unless tho information is delusive, the percentage. of accepted men is much greater than that of examinations hold previous to. this. That being ,so, the' question presents itself, What is tho reason? Have the authorities decided to reduce the physical standard of onr army to such a deplorable degree in order to expeditiously make up the existing shortages? This ; s the only conclusion I can arrive at, and 'if it is a right one the responsible men have grossly misused tho wide- powers necessarily , given to them. Wo enn recognise, that the physical efficiency of our army must be decurront, as it increases, in size, but it would be suicidal to reduce the physical standard while there are still thousands of robust men to chooso from.

Tho hardships and privations that have to be endured are enough to test tho strongest constitution. To send men with weak constitutions is little better than manslaughter, and the least tho public can do is to protest againsti the sending of such men.—l am, etc., . ' OBSERVER.

STATISTICS WANTED,

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—Seeing that we have now had three ballots for recruits, the percentage of First Divisio.n men who are suitable for active service should be easily ascertainable. Being in the Second Division, and knowing our National Government have not time to attend to such a minor detail as an early notification, I would be pleased if, through your columns, you yourself or one of your statistically-inclined readers, would oblige us Benedicts with an idea as to the probable date of our being called on for service. You must know that-a father of a family would have ii host, of details needing attention. Therefore I humbly ask you to publish the above, and I feel sure the statistician would receive the heartfelt thanks of the many men in the Second Division.—l am, etc.. /

R. T. DALY. (We do not know of any information up' to the present by which percentages of passes can be ascertained. -Ed. "L.T.")

THE VOLUNTEER TO TIIK. EDITOR.

Sir,—The Minister of Defence has assured the people time and again that ho is desirous of giving every encouragement- to tho voluntary enhstor in tho Expedition ary Forces. It seems strange that upon the first occasion the' Christchurch rejects have had an opportunity of presenting themselves before tho Medical Board for final examination thov should he placed last upon tho list—too late to be excluded from the double ballot, which is to commence on February 5. The Medicat Board is to be sitting in Christchurch during the same Week the ballot is being drawn, and as the ballot will take a number of days to complete, it is to be hoped that the officials responsible for the arrangement v 6f the .examination of reservists may see their -nay clear to eive the sixty rejects who have handed fn their names the fair opportunity of being • examined at xno commencement of the Bitting,, so. that thoy mav have tho benefit of having their names withdrawn from the Dai'lot.—l am, etc., ,__,„•„ : ~ voLUNTELB,