THE C MEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 18, 16 October 1917, Page 5

THE C MEN

f'A WASTE OF MAN-POWER"

QUESTION IN THE .HOUSE

"There is a waste of man-power by tho tailing up of many married men who iwill never be sent to tho front," said Mr. R. M'Callum (Wairau) in the House •of Representatives last night. Mr. M'Cal3nm asked tho Minister of Defence to pee that tho medical boards exercised discretion in sending C men into 1 tho 'preparatory camps. There were married Vinen in the camps now who would never ■go to tho front, Rnd were only wasting {their time, | Sir .'lames Allen said that a special {medical board had made a Tery carejlul medical examination of the men who liad been sent into the preparatory Vamp. The men were put into camp beicause there was a reasonable' prospect to! their being made fit for activo serLvice.' Bo could not judge himself of any (jnan's fitness,' burtho board that was Wealing with these eaces had special qualifications. The Minister added that Son Saturday he had been told by tho finstnictor who had been brought, from 'jßritain to deal with these men that CO (per cent, of them would become fit for feerrico at the front. The DefenoeJDemartment could not' afford to lose that IfiO per cent. Tf it did fail, the, places jwould' have to l>e filled Tjy married men. (There were not many married men in .the preonratory camp nt the present time. Mr. M'Callum: Sh'ike out' the clause labout married men." ■ Sir Jam?* Allen: Tou mean, the proM'ion thjt men married after .4 mil. should'be nlnoed in the; EirstJDiyifeion. T have that under consideration. , U do not know that there is much necessity for that clause now.