PHYSICAL FITNESS OF RECRUITS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9685, 13 June 1917, Page 6

PHYSICAL FITNESS OF RECRUITS

(To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —In tiiis morning’s paper you mention the case of a young man in Levin, with a wooden leg, being called up in a recent ballot. A man in tho South Island, a few mouths ago, had a similar experience, but he was granted exemption from military service on the ground that the artificial limb was affected by the borer! 1 cannot vouch for tho credibility of that statement, but, in tho light of an actual experience, gained as a director of a life assurance society, it does appear to me that, with a view to keeping up our monthly contributions ot reinforcements from tho First Division, not sufficient care is displayed in passing men who present themselves for medical examination, which suggests the idea that quantity, not quality, is the first consideration. The case to which I refer is a man who was rejected by the above assurance society because bis heart and lungs were seriously affected, and he was also suffering from ulceration of the stomach. Admittedly, he was not a good subject for life assurance, and yet, mirabie dictu, ho was passed as medically fit by the -Military Board. It will be interesting to see how long ho will bo able to stand the severity of military training, especially at this time of the year.—l am, etc., “PRENEZ-GARDE.” J une 12th, 1917.