COMPULSORY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 1 November 1916, Page 8

COMPULSORY SERVICE.

MEDICAL BOARDS SELECTED.

ONE FOR EACH DISTRICT.

WORK COMMENCING SHORTLY.

[BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ! WELLINGTON, Tuesday. j The Minister for Defence, the Hon. James Allen, stated to-night that the Recruiting Board had been concerned all day with further regulations dealing with the medical boards that are to examine recruits and men who will be called up under Section 35. | We hope," the Minister said, " to' establish a medical board, consisting of two medical officers, for each military distiict. The medical board for any one military district, however, will not be composed of medical officers belonging to that district, but will be sent there from sonie other place, so as to avoid all possibility of any accusation of unfairness or favouritism. The men to be examined will not be known to medical officers. No names will be mentioned, and the doctors will be permanent officers of the Defence Department. Our trouble at first was lest a family medical man might pass a would-be recruit who was not fit. Now we have to guard against the chance of a family medical man examining a reservist in case he might reject a man who was fit. The Minister stated that military ser- ! vice boards are now all ready. The officers hive been secured to go to work when necessary. •• And they will be necessary shortly," he said. I , "WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The authorities were in doubt some weeks ago as to whether they could ap- i point medical boards of less than three! officers. T» Military Service Act makes ■ provision fo. a board of three, but this board was to act in an appellate capacity in any cases about which the commandant might require to be better satisfied. The idea then was that recruits would be examined as now, bv civ: :an doctors, and the appellate medical board was intended to prevent all possibility of a man escaping his obligations. This was a point raised in the House, and several members were very insistent in their den-and for : this protection against favouritism. The i appellate boards of three will not now I be required, because the authorities are adopting a better system, which disposes of the need for them. It is held that these boards to be set up need not consist of three officers; that, indeed, the Act does not enjoin the appointment of boards for the simple examination of recruits in the first instance. As the Minister states, the recruits could legally be examined by a single doctor, but for greater .safety the Government is detailing officers to act in pairs on this work

CONSTITUTION OP THE BOARDS.

ORIGINAL PROPOSAL MODIFIED. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.]