FITNESS FOR WAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16769, 19 June 1920, Page 3

FITNESS FOR WAR.

NEW ZEALAND MANHOOD. 57 PER CENT. REJECTED.34 PER CENT QUITE FIT. BV TBUEOBAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON. June 19. A return prepared by the medical branch of the Defence Department throws a rather remarkable light upon the physical state of tho manhood of New Zealand. It is shown that, of 133,282 men of military age examined for purposes of service during the war. 77,900 wore rejected. HOW CLASSIFIED. The classification was: — A fit, 46,483. B fit (after treatment or operation!, (unfit at present, but may he fit after training), 6507 ; C2 (unfit lor service abroad), 74,689. D (permanently unfit for- any service), 3211. Of tho total, 87,368 claimed New Zealand as the land of their birth, while 28,680 were born in tho United Kingdom, 8769 in other British possessions, and only 464 in. other countries. MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS. An • instructive tale of tho causes of rejection shows that no fewer than 15,390 men were rejected for hears disease, 10,035 for defects jof the upper and lower extremities, 959 for being under chest measurement, 295 for venereal disease, 1718 for tubercular diseases, 4043 for impaired constitution and debility, 1011 for malformation of chest and spine, 1200 for diseases of the nervous system, 1076 for defective intelligence, 6423 for defective vision, 4994. for diseases of the veins (variv), 2066 for respiratory diseases, 4530 for hernia 1715" for diseases of tho digestive system, 1340 for varicocele, 3211 for flat feet and 1651 for goitre. NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT. Of the total rejected from class A. no less than 22,876 followed farming pursuits, 6696 were clerks, 2406 railway employees, 1.1,180 general labourers, 446 wharf labourers, 1479 seamen, 1146 builders and contractors, 3457 carpenters and joiners, 1537 engineers, 2192 mechanics, 1153 miners , 1145 painters and paperhangers, 2741 mill and factory employees, 1057 Jhotel and restaurant employees and 5793 shop assistants, warehousemen and commercial travellers. HEART DISEASE! PROMINENT. Tho largest proportions of rejections in various occupations wore as follows; Farming pusuits.-—4371 for heart troubles, 2800 for defects of the upper and lower extremities. Cl 6l -l cs ,_l2S3 for heart disease, 674 for defective,vision. Railwaymen.—4l4 for heart disease. Postal.—2o7 for heart disease. General labourers. —1608 for heart disease, 1372 for defects of upper and lower extremities', 914 for defective vision. In other occupations also heart disease was the principal cause of re-