EXAMINATION OF RESERVISTS.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 January 1918, Page 4

EXAMINATION OF RESERVISTS.

If a tenth of what is rumoured in connection with what has taken place at Military Medical Board examination of reservists is true, one need feel no surprise at the action of Dr. Thacker, M.P, in trying to induce some reform. Indeed, there has been occasion for resentment of the behaviour of some Military Service Boards in Taihape. Men who are universally respected in this district have been plied witli questions and ordered to do things that no self-re-specting citizen is obliged to submit to. If Dr. Thacker's information is authentic, and the reports are true that we hear from Taihape men, why does the Defence Department continue to neglect its obvious duty? We are not going to blame the Government for any appearance of irregularity and signs of ill-breeding in either the Military Service Boards or the Medical Boards. The need for these institutions was spontaneous and there was no opportunity to select men, or for those who were appointed to fully grasp the fact that they were neither dealing with cases of lawbreaking, or with cases in which they 1 had any right to privilege any who might appear before them. At first there was but little friction, but us time went on the Military Boards drifted and became little different from the ordinary Magistrate's Court. Aopellants were ordered to show their hands and perform other gyrations to such an extent that it brought to memory a case that took place in South Australia within living memory. The magistrate in this case was a recent political appointee, and the man before him was a brother former with whom he was not on the best of terms. The evidence was en- ! tirely against conviction, but the Justice could not resist the opportunity for spite or revenge. He ordered the defendant farmer to turn round, the man refused, and a constable was ordered to forcibly turn him round The scene resulted in a supreme court case and the Justice was ordered to pay heavy damages, ahu the political party that appointed him had to ask for his resignation Military Service Boards have no status or right in ordering balloted recruits to do anything further than state thefr'tiase and to answer all legitimate and pertinent questions, and nothing further should be allowed to continue. An enquiry is now being held concerning the medical examination of a number of recruits and until this closes we are not referring to any case in particular. The result will probably be a mending of the conduct of Military Service Boards as well as of Medical Boards when Second Division men j come before them. I