WHAT OUR READERS THINK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2486, 12 June 1915, Page 6

WHAT OUR READERS THINK

STRANGLED BY RED TAPE, A REMARKABLE CASE. (To tlie Editor.) Sir,—As an instance of the red tap entanglements erected by the Medica Service in the way of intending recruits may I quote my own experience ? A fort night ago I wrote to you in protes against my rejection on the ground o defective eyesight without glasses, m; vision with glasses normal. Oi that occasion I was examined by a citr doctor, who tested my sight and reject ed me absolutely without any furthe examination in the other particulars se out in the official form. A few day later I again applied for registration and after some demur the recruitin officer permitted me to go for examina tion to another doctor. This doctor after a full examination, wrote a follows in the "Remarks" portion o my papers:— "Unfit.—Candidate cannot read without his glasses. With glasses all right. Very fit otherwise. Suggest his employment in A.S.O. (Army Service Corps) or clerical work if D.M.S. approves." ■ Armed with this I sought the D.M.S. Colonel Purdy, on Monday, and inter viewed him in the corridor at'the De fence Headquarters. My reception wa not encouraging. Colonel Purdy, not ti put too fine a point on it, appeared t< be in an exceedingly irritable mood. Ai soon as he saw my papers he said, "Thii has nothing to do with me." I director his attention to the doctor's recommen dation, but he repeated several timoi that the matter had nothing whatevei to do with him. Having read the recom mendation over to him, I said: "Thai you refuse to approve the recommenda tion, sir?" Ho replied brusquely tbathe matter must go through the propel channel. I inquired what that cnanne was, and was told to take my paper; back to the rocruiting officer in th< proper way. This I did. The recruit ing officer naturally told mo that h( would have to refer the matter t< Colonel Purdy, and would do this wher Colonel Purdy visited the office on Wednesday morning. I went up at noor that day to ascertain tho result, anc was handed my papers to take back t< the doctor. Attached to them was th< following memo.: — "With regard to Field, 'Arthur Nelson, will definitely stato according to regulations what tho power of sight is without glasses and then fill in tho paper in accordance. The D.M.S. has nothing to do with the posting of men, and neither ho nor any other officer can depart from R-egns. "J. R. PURDY, Colonel, ■"D.M.S. "9-6-15." When I presented these papers to the doctor ho added a further memo, again directing attention to what he had written in tho "Remarks" space of my papers after examining mc. I then took tho papers back to the Garrison Hall, and was told b.v the recruiting officer that they would come before Colonel Purdy on Friday morning. Accordingly I went up to-day to inquii'o as to my fate, and was Handed

by one of tho officials my examination papers, to which a further memo, bad been attached by Colonel Purdy. This demanded that the medical olGcor who bad examined me should comply with the instructions-in Colonel l'uruy's first memo., and concluded with a statement to the effect that medical officers must not attempt to dictate, or mako suggestions, to the D.M.S., but must comply strictly with the reflations. It will bo seen that the doctor, ivhile meeting tho requirements of the regulations by declaring me "unfit," has taken the broad and reasonable ground that a man otherwise tit, but a shade more short-sighted' than tho prescribed standard for the firing line, might very well be madp use of in some other capacity, and has* made his recommendation accordingly. Colonel Purdy apparently would havo mo rejected, not on the merits of my/ case, but on technical grounds. . . I have been told' positively over and again by friends ill camp at Trentham that thore are any number of men ill the Reinforcement's who cannot tell a beo from a bull's foot witihout their glasses. I should like very much to know why the authorities wink at these men getting prist and take such pains to block me. It will be Motcd that so far Colonel Purdy, though having had my case under his notice three times, has neither approved nor rejected me, but apparently desires to oast the onus of my rejection . on somo o'/her officer. If lam rejected it will be another demonstration —if more demonstrations aro needed—of. the manner m which the Medical Service, which has tho first sifting of all recruitß, is being strangled in red tape.— I am, otc., A. N. FIELD. Wellington, June 11, 1915.