NEW ZEALAND LOSING RECRUITS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2386, 16 February 1915, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND LOSING RECRUITS.

Sir,—A youngifriend.cf mine, an oxTerritorial, somt: months ago volunteer,ed for the front; but was not passed by . the medical inspector is lie was under the chest measurement.'My friend writes me from Sydney as follows:—"No doubt you will bo surprised to hear that I am in these parts and in camp with the volunteers. I think I mentioned i to you some time ago that the medical , inspector would not j»ss me on account i of being too small around the chest. , Well, I did apt like to ree all my old friends leaving for/the front, and as I was strong and lealthy in every way I thought I would come over hero and "give it a go." Well, I.could show the Defence people Jiero that_ I had served 3| years with the Territorials, and three with the old volunteers. They put me ■ through a very strict medical examination and the officer mentioned that I was a shade under the chest measurement required, but would give: me a chance in; camp, to see how I got on, and I am pleased to say that after four weeks I can easily do the chest measurement. I have just met another boy from Christchurch, who could not .pass over there for the same reason. .as myself, and he has since been mado a corporal. Possibly there are other cases similar to thes? where men who know something about- soldiering are kept out on account of not coming up to the standard measurements. I noticed a letter in one of the local papers suggesting having a regiment or "shortys,." and I think this would be a splendid idea of giving some good men a chance. We want men who can shoot, and if any of these small chaps have' served as volunteers for any. length of time, why not give them a chance? It is .very hard when a volunteer has to pay his fare to Sydney in order to get away to the front.— I am, etc., VETERAN.