YOUNG AND UNDEVELOPED RECRUITS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1457, 9 October 1915, Page 3

YOUNG AND UNDEVELOPED RECRUITS.

In the House, Mr W. H. Field asked the Minister for Defence whether he had seen the letter, written by Colonel Mackesy at the Dardanelles to the Mayor of Whangarei, pointing out the grievions mistake of sending too young and undeveloped men to the front, and whether the Government will take more effective measures to prevent hoys under twenty years of age from joining onr reinforcements. Mr Field explained that it is freely stated that medical men in some cases have passed men as over twenty years of age who were known to be under that age.

In reply the Minister said, when registering for service intending recruits are required to certify to their age, and if under twenty years they are informed by the enrolling officer that they will not be allowed to proceed with reinforcements leaving New Zealand until they have attained that age. If a young man states his age as twenty years and looks that age. it is difficult for the examining medical officer to refuse to pass hinrii physically fit, Directions were given that birth certificates were to be produced wheie thought necessary.