Young New Zealand.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 23, 7 June 1911, Page 6

Young New Zealand.

The commander of H.M.S. Pioneer has come to the conclusion that the physique of young New Zealanders is not of much account, but he bases his judgment upon the examination of recruits offering for service in th< British Navy, which would not be a fair criterion. The ship's surgeon. through whose hands recruits must pass, states that of the 145 recruits examined on the Pioneer in 1910. 40 were medically fit. and 105 medically untit. Details showed that 30 were rejected for not being of sufficient chest measurement. 2t> on account of their bad teeth, nine for having scoliosis ia lateral curvature of the spinel, and the rest for various different defects. For .1911 so far 41 men had been medically examined and about 15 had been passed. The causes of tire rejections were approximately the same, and in a similar ratio to those for the previous year. The surgeon attributed the "back twist - ’ to the habit many young fellows have of standing about with their hands in their pockets. Further, he believed that some eases of scoliosis were brought about through many young fellows having had. when boys, to carry heavy milkcans or pails of milk in one hand. This had a tendency to pull one shoulder down more than the other. He bad had an opportunity of noticing this, as many of the navy were recruited from country districts.

Regarding those New Zealanders who did pass the test, however, it is stated that the Admiral had nothing but praise. Their physique was splendid: indeed, they more than favourably compared with Australian recruits. Only a few months ago. on the occasion of his last inspection, the Admiral had remarked in conversation that the New Zealand seamen on board the warships were much better physically than those of Australia. Captain Stopford and the surgeon made it clear that they were by no means pointing to the New Zealander an a physical degenerate, for such he wae certainly not: they had only discussed the wais prevalence of two

defects, bad teeth and twisted backo. Apart from that the physique of the young New Zealander was very good. Captain Stopford said,- further, that naval reserve men recruited from our shores were, iu his opinion, a fine body of men as a whole. The standard for this class of servece was much lower than that for recruits proper. An Auckland medical man. who is .a member of the Medical Corps, waited upon by a "Star” representative last week, said Captain Stopforth's remarks were not to be taken seriously as far as the general physique of young New Zealanders was concerned. The doctor in question went on to say that he had recently put through hundreds .of territorials, and the percentage of rejects was exceptionally small. Almost invariably the young men coming up for investigation were of excellent physique. Compared with recruits from the South of England (of which he had had personal experience), he could say that New Zealanders were immeasurably superior. Under the old volunteering system the class of men offering was not so good, but the hundreds of territorials whom he had recently examined were, generally speaking, really first-class men. They represented the average standard of young New Zealanders, so far as physique was concerned, and there was not the slightest reason, in his opinion, for any concern on tiie question as it applied to the manhood of the Dominion. The ordinary number of cases of impaired hearts ami of defective eyesight- were encountered, but tne average was. if anything, below what might be expected in any country. The only explanation of (apt. Stopford’s statement was that there was an inferior class of men offering as naval recruits, and they were no; at all representative of the average standard obtaining in New Zealand.