PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 December 1940, Page 3

PHYSICAL FITNESS STANDARD

MEN IN TERRITORIAL BALLOTS ASSERTIONS CONTRADICTED [United Press Association] INVERCARGILL, Ist December. Contradicting assertions made in northern centres that the general average physical capacity of the young men of New Zealand had gone down badly since the last war, an Invercargill doctor said to-day that the results of the medical examination of men called up in the first and second territorial ballots disproved this. The chief fact to be taken into consideration when contrasting the physical standard of 1914-18 and now, he said, was that the last war examination was not nearly so strict as now. The men for this war were being put through tests never given last time. “What the public does not realise is the examination reservists go through to-day. The strictest possible examination is 100 per cent, stricter than in 1914-18.” declared the doctor, who had a great deal of experience examining men in the last war. The eye tests this time were a great deal stricter. Cardiac efficiency tests were applied and urinalysis taken. These three tests were not undertaken in the last war. Finally a complete X-ray examination was being made now which recruits did not have in the last war. Last time the medical regulations were so framed as to permit the passing of men with physical defects which, if found in men coming before the medical boards to-day, would bar them. There had been cases in the Great War of men being passed who had the sight of only one eye, and those who had hernia, provided a properly fitting truss was worn. The advance of science and the extension of medical knowledge tests had been made far more severe on the results of the examination of reservists so far. Taking these factors into consideration he was utterly unable to subscribe to the belief that the physical standard of the young men of New Zealand was deteriorating.