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Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1871, 31 August 1918, Page 1

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UNFIT FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. PREDOMINANCE OF PHYSICAL REJECTS. Among the many extraordinary things that have been revealed by the war has been the physical •unfit-' ness from a military point of .view of the great majority of New Zealand’s manhood. This has been brought forcibly before the public recently by a statement by the Minister for Public Health (Hon. G. W. Russell), Avho expressed extreme regret that a young country like New Zealand should produce so many physically deficient young men. Close enquiry into the facts shows that there is strong justification for the Minister’s apprehenson. Roughly speaking, the Dominion has sent 100,000 soldiers overseas a splendid record considering the population of the country—hut when it is considered that for every man drafted into the army 1' to 2 have been rejected on account of physical disability, it will be generally admitted that the problem is a serious one. It is well known, however, that New Zealand does not compar e unfavourably with older parts of the Empire with respect to “military physical unlit ness,” but this does not alter the facts that arc shown by (lie figures given In-low. Unfortunately no record was kept by the Defence authorities regarding voluntary recruits, and it is consequently only possible lo deal with the men called np during I Lie conscription regime. Another fact that, has (o he pointed out is that a great many of I he men called np by ballot were volunteers who had failed previously to satisfy the very rigid medical test applied by the Military Service Boards.

PREDOMINANCE OF C2

In a return presented to Parliament iast session, it was shown that until June 30th, 40,773 men had been called up by ballot. Of this number Hi.57(5 were classed A; 514, R 1; 888 B2; 407 Cl; 21,303 C2; and 2,029 D. In order that tin- public may understand more fully the position the classification is given below : A —'Men tit for active service beyond the seas. B —Men fit for active service beyond the seas if they undergo specified medical, surgical, or dental treatment (after operation in camp or public hospital). B2 —Men (it for active service beyond the seas if they undergo specified medical, surgical, or dental treatment (after recovery at home). Cl. —Men likely In become fit for active service beyond the seas, after special (mining, C2 —Men permanently unlit for active service beyond the seas, hut til for' service of some nature in New Zealand, D —Men permanently until for active or home service. It will he seen that the groat majority of rejects during the period named were classed C2, a fact which shows that their disabilities were not of a very serious nature. Since the above return was published many of the 02 men have been re-examined and passed lit for active service beyond the seas. HOME TELLING FIGURES. The total number of First Divi-