MINOR DEFECTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14052, 24 July 1916, Page 5

MINOR DEFECTS.

'. . •-•■ . •-■ - ♦ . ... NO BAR; TO SEiRVEOE. REGULATION .'EXPLAINED. An assurance that men suffering from [only slight physical disabilities may be accepted for .active '; service • luf s - been- received by. the Auckland Recruiting Com-mittee-from -General- R. &.< F;- Henderson, Director-General of Medical • Services. ■-' After some 1 correspondence with the' 'Minister of -Defence • regarding the regulation that "men requiring .surgical treatment 1 should- be deferred', until ;six months-' after operation, the committee :\y rote* to General > Henderson,. : drawing his attention to the -detrimental effect .'on recrutiing that would result from the 'strict- enforcement pf -the -regulation. ■:•■ « The chairman of ■ the committee, Mr :J. "BC Gunson., stated that a /reply had b'eeri received from General. ''Henderson explaining that men with • slight- varicocele or varicose veins 'are always, to be : passed- without operation, as • -experience has shown that -such 1 men are able tp- undergo -the strain of "active service much-better than men who have been operated on. '■:•"'• - ißegardirig men suffering from' severe forma, of these disabilities necessitating [operations, General- Henderson states that many -years of experience has satj isfied the War Office that such men are not fit for training until- at least six months after the operation. - The expert ence afforded • m • the New Zealand training catnps has led to a similar conclusion.- -General Henderson added that he hopes to visit Auckland 'shortly; and he will' tben -discuss matters with the medical officers. ;• ■ y ■ y .■ ■ "Ndfr Gunson Remarked that the letter formed'. a •higilly satisfactbry conclusion to the Sfldrts'of •'the Committee m regard to the, matter. Its criticisms of the regulation had 'been prompted by tlie; fact that a large number «of - men had been, deferred on account of minor disabilities. The explanation .that such defects .would 'not prevent . .their, acceptance should encourage thenv; to returri. to the recruiting station, and others who had considered' themselves unfit, to come • •fpnyard without delay. '