New Zealand News.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 May 1918, Page 3

New Zealand News.

MARRIED MEN'S PHYSIQUE. PERCENTAGE IMPROVING. The medical examinations of the first 10,000 of the Class B balloted men, married men with one child each, are expected to be completed next week. The returns that are already available, states a Wellington paper, show that the percentage of men passed fit for camp, including the men •who will have a preliminary course of training in the Cl camp., is higher than early figures to expect. About 37 per cent of the Class B reservists already examined have been passed. This is a slightly better percentage than wds provided by Class A, married men without children, The number of passes at the medical examinations Hoes not represent the net return of the ballot so far as the recruiting authorities are concerned. The balloted men are examined medically before their appeals are heard, and a proportion of the fit men will secure exemption or suspension. The percentage of fit men in Class E may be regarded, however, as satisfactory in view of the stringency of the medical tests. A GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. The Defence Department continues to use the civil police for the collectoin of money alleged to be due to it by soldiers, says a Wellington paper. A recent case in Wellington was that of a Gallipoli veteran long ago discharged, who is stated by the Defence authorities to have been overpaid a small sum while he was a member 'of the forces. The ex-soldier disputes the claim, and in correspondence with the. Department has stated his view of the" position. On a recent afternoon a uniformed policeman called at his house and explained that he had come “for the money. The grievance of the returned soldiers does not consist of the attempt to recover money. It is admitted that in some cases the money may be due, since the field paytnasfers are not infallible. But the returned men object to the use of the police for the collection of what are simply civil debts, if they are debts at aIL