REJECTED RECRUIT'S TOUR OF THE DOCTORS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 6

REJECTED RECRUIT'S TOUR OF THE DOCTORS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Apropos of tho numerous letters relating to the discouragement of recruiting in your issue of May 28, and your leader of to-day, I will give you my experience. On December 22, 1914, I volunteered for Territorials, with the view of boing drafted into the Expeditionaries. I was passed lit in every respect by Surg.-Lieut.-Col. (I wear glasses). On January -1 I wished to get into the Expeditionary Force. Lieut.-Colonel —— was perfectly willing to pass me, but informed me that his commanding officer had some personal desiro to have me "turned down." I' was 'then sent, to Surgeon-Captain i —•. who very brusquely informed me II was unfit, and he wasn't going to exI amine me.'

I afterwards came to , and was examined by my own desire by Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel who said that I was quite-physically fit, but that he wouldn't pass me as my eyesight was defective. (I am givsn to understand he had been instructed to turn mo ■ down.) I went to an eye specialist, who examined me very carefully, and gave a certificate that my eyesight was excellent with glasses, and very useful without glasses, and slightly above tho 'standard demanded by tho older regulations. . ' Subsequently a medical olticer in the New Zealand Medical Corps warned certain officials at to block mo frum being sent to Treiifliam camp for tho Expeditionary Force. In*tho meantime 1 was transferred from Auckland Military District us a Territorial to Wellington, and 111 due course had to put in my time at a casual camp, where one ol the oliicers in charge asked me why I was not 111 the Expeditionary. Korce. I was then again examined by the medical omcer attached, who passed nie lit for a branch in the Expeditionary horecv My experience, I believe, is not unique, but it will in a great measure bear out tho opening sentence of your article "Medically Unfit." I would ask this pertinent question: How many of the medical officers, from the head down, have a practical knowledge of active service in the field, without which, 1 submit, they arc not properly qualified to use the discretion aecL iuclcment to ms uwid'i ia.

most essential for tJjo good of tho Government. who pays, and the men who havo to light.—i am, etc., PERPLEXED. LEAVE AND DRILL ROUTINE. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Muoli controversy has lately arisen in respect to the lack of vitality shown by the young moil of New Zealand to enlist, and 1 would like to acquaint the public with a lew causes which I consider detrimental to tho present recruiting campaign. It is my intention to expose several defects in the administration of the ■ troops at Trentham. First of all take the system of leave. This is very irregular, and some men obtain twice as much as others. Would it not be possible to establish a regular system of leave whereby tne men would be granted, say, two half-days per week? I think this would be a much fairer method and ensure justice to all.

The monotony of the drill is apparently the only thing that can damp the cheery spirits of our fighting sons. Surely something can bo dc.llo to make the work more interesting. Route marches on moro frequent occasions would tend to solve tho problem. Competitions could be arranged in every branch of tho drill, the reward for tho winners to be, say, all extra day's leave now and then. This would establish a healthy rivalry between the companies, cultivate the keennesi t the men, aiid at the .same time proficiency would bo obtained in a much shorter period than heretofore.

In view of the foregoing you will ask what this has to do with the slump in recruiting.. Allow me to enlighten you. Just put the question to all the eligible young men, and they will invariably ansiver to the effect tiiat four months' training under the present regime would certainly bo too much for their free and easy dispesition. A most weak-kneed excuse 110 doubt, but still tho obstacle is there.—l am, etc., DEJECTED HEJECT.