REJECTS FROM THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 552, 6 July 1909, Page 3

REJECTS FROM THE NAVY.

commander' , blunt's views '.-■'. ceiticised: '■''-': :

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ;v .'/'/'.', 'Auckland, July 5.

.Dr. E., Robertson, who passes a'large number of men through-his hands, jn. connection with .life insuranco work, expressed surprise ,(in conversation with a reporter last .evening) at 'the figures quoted by Commander' Blunt at the annual.,.ineeting of, the jWellington, branch of the' Navy League;.. Speaking. With reference:to. rejects for. : the Navy, he'said •that ho was quite sure the proportion of deformed, in,the whole population .was ,not that which the commander- indicated that be had found amongst applicants for (enrolment on the Pioneer; To properly estimate tho significance of these figures, however, it would bo necessary to know front what class the naval recruits .came; '.'what the . regulations , were ..under ' which they were tested,' and- how the regulations were inteN preted, for a good deal depended on their,' interpretation.,: •.. Dr. ■ Robertson . went on -, to say'.that .his. Experience was; .that ; tho. physique of .New. Zealanderß; was,.', better/ than that, of infmigrants' from' the Old '■ Country, especially those from the 'British towns. Malformation was' more prevalent.: amongst, children ,in tho, back-blocks *of Now Zealand than those in the town's, and this, Dr. Robertson attributed to nutrition.: He occasionally came across malformations (principally of the chest and. spino) and'these were due to the individuals having; been put to wor,k at an earlier age than was proper., '--■■ ... • . . v '.•,'■