RECRUITING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2917, 1 November 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING

REDUCING THE SHORTAGE

MEDICAL BOARDS APPOINTED

Supplementary drafts of recruits for tho 22nd Reinforcements aro to enter camp to-day from tho four military districts. Tho group officers wore asked to cover tho shortages, amounting at the beginning of this week to nearly 900 men, but apparently tho number of additional recruits sent forward will fall very far short of tho required total. It is cxpected that about 100 men will reach tho camps to-day, reducing tho shortage to slightly less than 800.

Tho results of tho special recruiting effort that is being made by the Dofenco Department cannot yet be gauged. Tho non-commissioned officers of tho group staffs have been busy during tho last two days canvassing in quarters where recruits aro likely to be found, and they have met with a certain amount of encouragement. They will continue their work until November 11, ! when voluntary recruiting for the 22nd and 23rd Reinforcoments will close, and by that time most of the fit men remaining in tho First Division will at least have had a personal call to service. Tho recruiting officers are finding that comparatively few men are in a. position to leave their employment at short notice, and for this reason it is expected that the Defence Department's present effort will bo of benefit cliieflj' to later Reinforcements.

Two Medical Boards, constituted under the Military Servico Act, are now in existence, and will begin their work ! vcok ' There is one board for each sllaud at present, but other boards will be created later if the services of suitable medical officers can be secured. The officers are required to give their whole time to tho work under tho Act, and tho general shortage of doctors has made it difficult for the Defence Department to fill its requirements. The rsorth Island Board will sit at Palmerston North next Tuesday and Wednesday, and at Auckland on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The South Island Board will sit at Christchurch on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at Dunedin on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The first task of I tho Medical Boards, will be to hear tho appeals of-men who have 'been summoned for service under Clause 35 of the Act, relating to "shirking families," and who are claiming exemption on the ground of medical unfitness. The Medical Boards probably will confine their sittings to the chief centres in order to economise time. Men ■who are required to undergo medical examination will be provided with travelling warrants, and will bo directed where'and when to presont themselves before one of the boards. The pressure of work is likely to become severe after November 11, when considerable bodies of compulsorily enlisted men have to be dealt with, but it may not be necessary for the specially constituted boards to see all tho recruits of this class. Some of the men will not allege physical unfitness, and in that case tliey may go before military doctors in the ordinary way.

. The reservist who alleges physical unfitness as a reason why he should not serve until the Expeditionary Forces when he is summoned under tho provisions of the Act will be required to face a closo examination under strict, conditions. The Defence authorities, as has been explained ' already in [The Dominion, have been determined to leave no ground for any suspicion of unfairness or favouritism in this connection. Every man will bo required to be examined in his own district. The doctors forming the Medical Boards will work in districts .away from their own homes, and the.y will know the recruits simply as stripped men, distinguishedl by numbers. The man who pleads that ho is physically unfit for service, cither at home or abroad, will have to convince one of these boards that ho is not taking an unnecessarily gloomy view of his own condition.

The following additional recruits hare been attested at tho Wellington Town Hall recruiting office:—

R. J. Adams, warehouseman, City. E. Allpress, labourer, City. F. J. Chapman, seaman, City. H. Holland, labourer, City. ! W. J. Harvey, farm hand, City. H. T. Marshall, clerk, City, j J. M'Namee, fireman, City. (}. Paul, draper. City. P. J. Snow, railway guard, City. H. AV. Thompson, warehouseman, City. A. B. Thompson, hairdresser, Trentham. SPECIAL EFFORTS TO PILL THE GAPS. By Telegraph—Prc6s Association. Christchwch, October 31. A meting of citizens convened by the Mayor was hold this afternoon to consider the recruiting problem. It was generally agreed that special efforts should be made to fill up tlve gaps in recent Reinforcements, and it was decided to make' appeals nightly at varipicture tlreatresj the proprietors having consented to allow speeches to be made during tho performance. It was also resolved that local bodies throughout Canterbury bo asked to forward tho movement.