FIT MEN ON HOSPITAL SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 9

FIT MEN ON HOSPITAL SHIPS

(To tho Editor.)

1 ] Sir,—ln reply to your correspondents, < . "Ueturncd" and "fioturncd Soldier" on . April 30, I must havo touched somo First . Division,fit A men on a tender • spot r I when dealing with hospital ships. If they . J are 1? or G Class, why do they wax so > wroth? Tho caso I mention was a singlo r fit A man, and I know that ho had no . special training, being in camp only a f mattor of three or four weeks at tho . most, and had no particular liking for . things military whatever, but 1 expect a ; Uttlo influence did tho trick. I admit . a man to bo of real sorvice amongst tho , 6ick noeds a lot of training, but iiow a ! man with a month at most can possess [ such qualities is past me.".Returned" . says that working all hours in all sorts ' of djseases and sickness and extreme teini j perattires is strenuous duty on a-hospital [ ; ship. When a sick and badly wounded man is nblo to withstand euch discomi ! forts, surely a fit man in health is able ', ! to stand them. And on tho return trip from i I New Zealand no sick would need atten- ' j tion, as everything would be lovely com- | pnred to a crowded transport. Can hie ' on a hospital ship bo compared to tho ! mrfn who is sent to the trenches, and , who is in and out.of them for two or ; j three years, up to his nook in mud and slush, not sure cf his meals other than the rations ha carries, and not a dry place to fall on when dead tired ho goes to sleep, unless in a dug-out. How does a plsice on ship compare to the man going over the top, being wounded and lying in tho open or in a hole until picked up? I would like to remind "Boturned" that it takes a bettor man to volunteer now than it did tho first six months of war, when ho says Borne of thorn have been, nearly four years "doing their bit" while I havo rested in ease end contentment. Jlow often have married men been told that they were not wanted until the single men wore done with ? A man's first duty is to his wife and children, but I am sorry to Bay there are cases where the man has been only too glad to get away from his responsibilities. The Government decided, when conscription wiiß brought in, that the fairest way was for every man to go in his turn, and when my turn comes "Returned" need not bo afraid there will be whining, but if passed fit I will go, and there will be no appeal, although it will mean closing down my business. Jly ideas and views | of , the duties on hospital ships cannot bo j very distorted and inaccurate when the; tjuestion was brought up in the House of Kepresentatives by eome of cur, it.P.'s; eo there must be some strong ob- { jection to the way tho ships are manned, j Bear in mind, I am not saying anything against the medical staff or nurses, for whom 1 have the greatest respect; but I do not think it right that First Division fit men with little experience or . training should, be pushed in' at the last i May or two. If "Eeturned Soldier" and his friend will read the evidence of llr. ! Douglas Seymour, general eeoretary of j the New Zealand Eeturned Soldiers', Association, before tho Defence Expenditure Commission they will seo where it was suggested that the personnel for hospital I ships should be unfit or partly fit men, hlso that fit men now on their way should be released for eervice at tho front.

Another instance as to why CI men should be able to perform tho duties: Jjast Saturday a sports meeting was held at Trentham, and the winner • of tho threo-mile cross-country event from amongst 800 competitors was a man who started in the CI Cnmp. When my critics refer to Cl men or rejects being unable to carry on on tho ship, I would like to know what is to prevent a man with flat feet or minus a finger or ono eye, or any other slight or doubtful disability, doing the work whilo a fit "A." rots to tho front. Thanking you, Mr. Editor, in anticipation.— I am, etc SECOND DIVISION.