REJECTED AT THE CAMP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2622, 18 November 1915, Page 6

REJECTED AT THE CAMP

MEN OF TENTH REINFORCE- | MENTS, A fair proportion of men, who went int-o camp on Tuesday, and who haij successfully passed the medical test in the centres where they, enlisted, were, rejected by the camp doctors at Trentham, very much to tho recruits' surprise and chagrin. Of the Wellington City draft about a dozen were so dealt with, the defects responsible.for-this being chiefly varicocele, varicose veins, eye-sight, aud small chest measurement. When each draft was ordered to strip in tho medical quarters, men with any defects, including crossed toes, were told to fall out. After the accept-od men had been marched away, the others were then re-examined, some were subsequently found to bo fit for activo service, while the remainder were told that they were ineligible. The Wellington and Hawko's Bay men wore given their dinner before being re-examined. At the conclusion of this ordeal thoy were marched to headquarters. It was found, however, that their discharge papers were not ready. Tea was sorved to them, and they were mustered again at six o'clock. The corporal In charge 'then discovered that tho oflicers were all at dinner, and told the men. about 25 in all, that they would havo to sleep in camp and got their clearances in the morning. Against this, however, a 1 strong protest was made. Two officers were ,at length found who provided the mon with railway passes to the nlaces from whence they had comc, and they were told to call at tho Defenco Office iti Wellington on the following day and receive a' certificate of .unfitness and a. day's pay for every day which would be occupied in tho return journgy to their homes. Wellington men received one day's pay, Napier men two days' pay, and a man from Taumarunui was paid for three days.

The rejected men were disappointed and unable to understand why they should have been accepted in the firstplace and afterwards rejected at the camp. One-of them suggested that- in view' of tho urgent demand made for men, some_ doctors had treated each recruit on his merits, and not according to the hard and fast regulations which were' strictly adhered to by tho camp doctors. But this did not salvo tho men's injured feelings, especially those who had had presentations made to them, and had been farewelled in their borne towns or villages. "Look at me!" said ono man. "I'm a barman in a hotel. For the last week everyone who camo to the place has been bidding mo good-bye and wishing me hick. How will I lonic when I have -to go back? I'll he kent pretty busv explaining for a while, I think."

Another man avowed his intention of returning every gift'bo had received as parting souvenirs, while a third said: "■Well, I suppose we've got to lacetho parrot-cry of '.shirker' again." "I won't," a South African veteran declared. "I'm going to get a certificate befcro I loavo "Wellington, and every time a man chucks it up at me about not going to the war I'll let. him read tho document, and then land liim one on the ear."

Altogether tliev were an angry but philosophic lot who arrived in tlio C itv that night. It is probable that an -inquiry will be made regarding Ihe number of men who were reieeteil.

Mr. Hawloy, Collector of Customs at t'h'o Bluff, who lately received notice of his transfer to Napier, has, with the consent of tho Public. Sorvicc Commissioner, decided to remain at lilufT. Mr. Rose, Collector of Customs at Timaru, will fill the vacancy at Napier.