SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3111, 15 June 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

PRE-BALLOT MEDICAL EXAMINATION. The committee of the Wellington Second Division League met last evening, Mr. R, A. Armstrong presiding. Correspondence from a number of other centres regarding tho forthcoming Dominion Conference was dealt with, and it was decided to fix the date of the conference for Julv 18. The conference will be held in Wellington, and will be attended bv three representatives lrom each centre. Advice was received of the formation of new leagues at Ashburton anil New Plymouth. The question of amended scales of pension and allowances was dealt with at some length, and the discussion adjourned until next week's_ meeting. Letters were read from the Minister of "Defence on the subject of tho league;* previous communications, and the following further letter was authorised to be sent to Sir James Allen-.—

"Dear sir—l have the honour to acknowledge your letters of June S and 13, which were placed before my committee this evening. I was instructed to express to you the league's appreciation of the courtesy you have extended in your replies to our several communications. "Re Frc-l;allot Medical Examinations.— My committee directs me to state that they are not at al! satisfied that Ino objections raised are insurmountable, fhe insufficiency nf the reasons advanced for declining to adopt the suggestion of the league was fully shown in our letter of May 23. "With reference, to the mam objection stated, viz., 'that it would be practically impossible to provide- (be Medical Boards necessary to do the work and to carry on at the same time, the medical examination of the men who are now being called up in the current ballots/ T am directed to resjiettfully point out that the Medical Hoards have been called upon from time to time to meet the press of work caused by the enlargements of the ballots, and have apparently successfully coped wiili if. We notice also that it is proposed shortly Co call up 'the balance of tho First Division en bloc, which 'means that the authorities are prepared to face a temporary heavy increase in examinations. This, would provide an oppo-xtunitv for the examining boards, by speeding up a little, to complete the examination of the balance of tho Pirst Division well ahead of the first ballot of Second Division reservists. Apart from this, Tiowever, the league has suggested that the gradual medical examination of reservjsts in Class I of the Second Division could bo commenced practically at once, and carried on from class to class, without making any appreciable increase in tho work of the boards.' The number of men in Class I in each centre must bo comparatively small, and they could 3» taken in small batches from time to time, notification being sent to reservists to parade for examination at certain fixed times. This matter of pre-baHot medical examination is looked upon as of sucji great importance, not only to reservists personally, J>iit also to the industrial and commercial concerns of the country, that" we feel compelled to press for the institution of the system suggested.

"lie State Responsibility.—With regard to the responsibility of the Slate From the time a reservist enters camp, I am directed to state that tho league adheres to its previous contention, and must respectfully urge upon the Government the necessity for making provision accordingly. AYe recognise that, in the early stages of tho war ami distinctly under the voluntary system, there would probably be cases of young and enthusiastic men and those anxious to join the Porees deliberately withholding a full statement of their physical defects; but wo would point out that this is hardly likely to be a real factor under the compulsory system, and certainly not so far as the Second Division is concerned. Tho league most strongly contends that the State should undertake full liability for the men it actually conscripts, and we are confident that the people of the Dominion as a whole will gladly meet this liability.

"With reference to the questions contained in our letter of June 4, of which you say 'the figures asked for will be laid on tho table of the House during the coming session, 1 we would respectfully suggest that the puhliactiou of a clear statement of the points covered would effectually set at vest the doubts that now occupy the public mind. This cannot be done a moment too soon, and we would strong! v urge that the public be taken as fully us possible into the confidence of the authorities immediately after the opening of Parliament.

"Tn conclusion we desire to call voiir attention to questions 4 and 5 of our letter, of .Tune ■(. in I lie hope that you may, in tho meantime, let us have replies on these particular points, viz.. 4. What steps have been taken by the authorities to complete the register of reservists by insisting on the inclusion of those who have failed to register, and fhose who have become of militan- nsre since the original compilation? r>. Dow many defaulters have been traced and pn'"'slieil by the authorities?

"l!i<rli!ly nr wron-'lv an, impression lias trained ground Hint in addition lo fiose 'shirkers' who failed to register, (here are a larse number who have not reported themselves after beinpr drawn in th" billot, run] after having anneals dismissed. Tf Hiis i« the en=e (lie league holds thai, in justice lt> those who are nlavinf? the "nine, it behoves the (Tru--"i-nment to deal finnlv wilh this nrobleni.

'VSgdA <". Tf CHAPMAN. "Honorary Secretary