PHYSICAL STANDARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 7

PHYSICAL STANDARD

20 PER CENT MISS OUT GISBORNE EXAMINEES N.Z. FORCE RECRUITS Of the men enrolled in Gisborne foi the Special New Zealand Military Force, for service at home or overseas, 20 per cent of those examined to date have been classed as permanently unfit. A few less than halt of the recruits have been accepted as f > up to the rigid physical tests imposed, and about one-third are classed as temporarily unfit, but likely to qualify a s fit after dental treatment or othe minor improvements in their physical condition.

Up to last evening, 274 men had submitted themselves for medical examination, these being in almost all cases single men between the ages of 21 years and 36 years. In all, 128 vveic passed fit, 91 were classed as temporarily unfit, and 55 were rejected on physical grounds. The age-group from which these men were chosen is regarded as containing the flower of the districts manhood, and some concern may e felt regarding the fact that one-fifU of the volunteers have not met the tests, or shown capacity to meet them after the rectification of minor common the other hand, it is stated that the physical requirements set out 'by Army headquarters for this initial body of the Special Military, f orce is particularly high. One medical practitioner who took pait 111 ■ “boarding” of recruits stated that the standard was equivalent to that fixed for entry into the Royal New Zealand Air Force. _____