THE TERRITORIALS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1927, Page 4

THE TERRITORIALS

MEDICAL STANDARD RAISED

WKI.niXKTOX, Ane. 8

The raising of the medictfl standard for Territorials is announced by the Minister for Defence (the Bun. Mr Rol lesion). It- was reported from Christchurch that more boys were being rejected than formerly, and to-day the Minister admitted that this was so. ‘‘The position i.s that the population of the Dominion is growing faster than the size of the military establishment,” stated Mr Rolteston, “and that many units are already over strength. The number of lads liable to service increased by over 1(300 this year, and most, oi these are in the cities. Thus the Defi ■ice Department lias instituted a, higher physical standard. Flic real difference between the standard of the past and that of today i.s that prior to this year, although the standards have been set out in tables ol weight, height, age. chest measurement* and expansion, medical officers have been instructed not to reject candidates for the forces simply because they did not* reach the stun- \ (lards laid down, but- were to exercise their judgment, always keeping in view the fact that training was in a j great measure for the purpose of improving the physique of the boys ns far as possible. Now this qualifying clause has been struck from the instructions to medical examiners and at t-lie same time a difference has been made in tbo standard of height. “In previous years the necessary height tor the garrison artillery was 5 toot, 7 inches, for the field artillery 5 feet, (i inches, and for other arms o feet 4 inches. Now there has been a general increase in the standard for the artillery. Tn future SO per cent. of the men in the coast-, medium, and pack batteries must lie o feet- 9 inches and he remainder not less than o feet (5 inches. This is partly ltecausc the Department has decided that bigger men are needed to handle the guns, and partly because the artillery units are located in more thickly populated areas where the .surplus of recruits is I greatest. The minimum height for all f other arms remains at 5 feet’ 4 inches. I