1917-08-15 — Page 7

TER HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15TH. 19)7.

MEDICAL RE-EXAMINATION. war whom it was impossible to discharge now with the prosent demand for man ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DOCTORS. power. He quite agreed that hardship ought not to be inflicted on men who had A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE.

served abroad, and it was now proposed that any man who had served abroad In the House of Commons recently, and had been discharged on account of Mr. Pringle moved to reduce the salary wounds or sickness, who claimed exemp of the Secretary for War by £100 in tion, should be an additional exemption under the Act He denied that any order to call attention to the scandal in instructions had been given by the Wax connection with the medical re-examina-f Office to medical officers as the result case put forward on behalf of the War been a monstrous thing this the War Office

of which they were getting quantity rather than quality. No medical man of any standing would accept such instrue structions that the greatest consideration tions. The Army Council had issued in-

should be shown in the medical examina- | capacity............ tions, that the men improperly discharged at the beginning of the war should be considerately dealt with, that the case of men in the lower categories should be carefully considered, and that men who had already served should be exposed to as little hardship as possible.

tion of discharged and rejected men. He was able to show, be said, that not only had the precautions which were promised not been observed, but that these re- examinations had been carried out in a harsh, cruel, unfair, and wastoful way. (Hear, hear.) In nearly every area of the country has recruiting authorities had sent out notices for re-examination who had obtained not only to men fraudulent rejections, or hud in the past been carelessly examined, or whom they had reason to suppose had improved in health, but they had called upon the maimed, the halt, the blind, the mute the man, and even the dead to appear before these examining authorities. These

out feeling, whether or not you have got olearly our duty. (Hear, hear.) Is is 120,000 men, that they have been got by my belief, and it is a belief at which I menus which have excited widespread dis have arrived by making the closest in content and indignation. I am not quiry in my power, that the more the making any charge against the War Office, way in which this Act has been carried but all our experience shows that in out is examined, the more it will be found matters of this kind the best intended and that the War Office, not only in theory, best expressed instructions do not, in

but

so far as is possible in practice, have circumstances such as these, prevent the tried to carry out the definite pledges possibility of the recurrence of gross which were given by myself in this House.

They personal cases of hardship. Look at the wave tried to do so, and I think

considerable.

Success. It would have Office Mr. MacPherson says if the should have knowingly called up men who Medical Board goes wrong you have got were specially excluded under this Act an appeal. There is the possibility of us come up for examination. doubt, of men of the highest possible my hon. friend implied contained some a further appeal to a board composed, no not do it. They sent the notice, which They did

abstruse document which requires A Mr. Hugge: Only by permission.lawyer or a member of Parliament to

understand it. That is not true. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Asquith: Only by permission. I that is required, is that a man shall be have had given to me the figures showing able to read the notice and either to ba the experience of the Appent Tribunal in present or to return the notice to the London. These are the results of medical recruiting oficer. Mr. Hogge has actual roexamination for the five months ending y admitted that he himself was respon- May 9th of the present year. This is the Bible for advising men who received that most important tribunal in the country circular not to fill it up. It sits in six different committees, and it

Mr. Hogge: And so I will again. is a significant fact that the total number that he is preventing the laws of the Mr. Bonar Law: I say that in doing examining men at the rate of 15,000 of enses brought before them during country from being carried out. I ask

15,000 MEN EXAMINED DAILY. ̧· This instruction "was sent to all the medical officers. The authorities had been

All

át

men were bullied by the recruiting officers. I day, and had had to cope with these these five months does not excevi, 490.the Committee to believe that there has frequently kept waiting for many hours enormous nimbergi with a very much These 500 cases must be the residum of been an honest attempt on the part of without fond or water, and treated with shortened staff of capable medical men. thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, the War Office to carry out the deliberate

Doctors were not always perfect, and he did not doubt there were cases of veryIt is an inevitable drawback of a system House of Commons. officers, who usually conducted the re- examinations in the most perfunctory great hardship. But under the Act the of this kind that the men who come before made suggestions ag to the composition of! Mr. Asquith has man whose case was under review had the tribunal of first instance, through the medical boards. Before this Bill manner. (Hear, hear.) Every member of

the additional right, after being exainin ignorance, what of means, want of ad was passed the Government knew that that House who had had any connee- tion with local or appeal tribunals felted by the Medical Board, of appearing vice, and a hundred other things, even they would uced a far larger force of to an indignation at the treatment before the Appeal Tribunal, which might in some cases of the greatest hardship, medical examiners than before. Accord of these men and at the maladministration give him permission to go to the Special are never able to prosecute their case ingly they took steps to get competent which allowed it. (Cheers.) Exceptions Medical Board, on which the most dis- beyond the tribunal of first instance. It men, and in December of last year Dr.

Galloway, the leading physician were obtained, when the Act was passing tinguished doctors and surgeons in the issuevitable. I have letters which con through that House, that men wounded country served, including, in London, Sir vince me looking at this thing quite to the London University, was appointed Charing-cross Hospital, and examiner Frederick Treves. In addition to these impartially, that inevitably there are men by the Government as inspector of these gassed, or suffering from neurasthenia, as. the result of naval or military service, statutory rights, inspecting officers had that no reasonable body of either medical medical boards. He is not a servant of or any other men ought ever to have the War Office, and in his account of shonld be excepted from the provisions recently been appointed to visit every

dreamt of passing. I won't say for Class these boards, most of which he has ex of the Act, but these men were being medical board in the country.

If the Committee was not satsified, he A, but for any form of military service amined, he says: called up. The uniformity with which

was authorised to say that the Govern-whatsoever, who have frequently-I am made from time to time among the large "There must be errors they had occurred in every area indicated

ment was willing and ready to appoint afraid because these medical boards are numbers of decisions arrived it. But I that there must be some instructions which

a small Parliamentary Committee to very congested with business. after have been a witness of the patience and were responsible for all this cruelty.

wo what the Government had already what has been a very brief and perlune courtesy shown by the medical boards in Apart from the cruelty involved, it was

done-examine into the working of the tory examination, and in spite of the cases where these qualities have been sub- a waste of the national resources, Many

Act.

opinion of medical practitioners who jected to severe trial." The members of thousands of men were being taken into

knew the medical tistory of the in- these medical boards, though they have the Army to-day, and had been taken

dividunt concerned--been passed in an temporary Army commissions, are almost during recent months, who were unfit for

almost reckless fashion. The evidence on entirely civilians with private practices. any form of service. Wo had mobilised

that point is absolutely overwhelming.

I have examined this matter as closely as our cripples. That sort of thing could

I can, and I am satisfied that at no time. nut be done without destroying the con- Hidenor of the public, and the Gover

has work been done more conscientiously The right of appeal is unfortunately or more patiently. It seems to be thought ment could not stir up discontent without prejudicing the successful conduct of the

insufficient protection against individual that unless a wa cases of hardship. The fact that there in the ordinary sense it does not pay to war. (Cheers.)

take him. But these men are wanted have been only 500 appeals to the County of Londoa Tribunal in the course of nine just as much as the soldiers, and if they months confirms and corroborates what are not there we cannot have the soldiers have just said. (Hear, hear.) Of these in the trenches. In introducing the Re- 300 appeals, in 28 per cent of the cases combing behind the lines we had done a xaminations Bill I pointed out that by there was no alteration; in a little more Mr. Asquith: I must acknowledge to than 10 per cent, the category in which great deal to make up the shortaga

of had been passed for Class A or B1 the the House that I feel a special respon ho uan had been placed was raised; in recruits at that time. I have been asked largely answerable for the assent which and in early 20 per cent, of that 80 per from those behind and from the Hote Bibility in this matter, because I was 80 per cent. the category was lowered; have been got into the fron

for some indication of the number who the House of Commons gave to the adop. cent. the man was either referred back

fighting

or rejected altogether. Tant shows that

Furces. tion of compulsory military service.

We have actually got in the trenches now between 70,000 and 80,000. portant, and that we must get them.

Bir G. Baring said he was chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Tribunal, which had dealt with 4,000 or 5,000 cases, and their confidence in the medical boards was very soon rudely shaken. In nuniberless cases where mea

Medical Board, for whose existence he was very thankful. A large number of chairmen of these medical boards were members of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He did not impugn their honour, the War Office, were more anxious for but there was a belief that their masters, quantity than for quality. He would like to more independent civilian doctor as chairusen of medical boards.

REPLY FOR THE WAR OFFICE.

Mr. MacPherson, replying, stated that there had been a great deal of misropre sentation in the country in connection with the Act. The rejections with which the Act deals were accounted for on four grounds:

at all;

9. Fraud;

4. Rejections on account of ill health

The War Office had stated that they did not expect to get more than 100,000 men as the result of the re-examinations. But amendments were introduced, and the War Office afterwards reduced the esti mate of men who would be acquired to 60,000. That was prima facie caso for the good faith of the War Office. They knew that from 920,000 930,000 men might be called up for re-examination, and it might be said that it was not worth while to go to all that trouble for the sake of 60,000 Class A men. He un derstood that by the time they had examined all these man they hoped to get 60,000 ▲ men and 60,000 for the lower categories-in all 120.000 men, or prac tically six divisions, a number equiva lent to the original Expeditionary Force,

Mr. Asquith Fighting men?

(Cheers.)

Sir T. C. Warner: Will this Committee have power to dismiss people who have committed these atrocities f

Mr. MacPherson replied that the Com. mittee would have executive power of that kind. If it was shown by any courts of inquiry that there had been action ultra vires or any action amounting to cruelty and brutality, he could safely say that the executive power of the Army

Council would be exercised.

MR. ASQUITH'S SUGGESTIONS.

THE RECENT ACT,

INSUFFICIENT PROTECTION.

Et to be a soldier

EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE.

fine

widespread feeling that as long as there are young men, whateven their occup We have discovered more and more as the tion, left you should not take this clasa of men. But he could not carry that out.

war has gone on that there 1r6 other things which are as really vital to us ca the men in the fighting trenches, and if these ten can be spared from home to tial that we should make use of their sev replace other men it is absolutely easen- vices.

en a few weeks afterwards were entirely rejected or reduced to a very low cate gory by the Central Medical Board. His tribunal in case of doubt always sent the men to be examined by the Central great many of my old political friends and in this tribunal, in considerably more I say, therefore, that these men are im others in various quarters of the House than half the cases the opinion of the viewed the principle of that measure with medical board was reversed, and liat in intense repugnance, and they only con-nearly 20 per cent of the cases the man sented to its adoption on the assumption was declared, to be a person who ought Mr. Asquith says that there is a that compulsion was going to be equit not to have been sent into any category ably and universally applied, and, in of any sort or kind. (Cheers.) If that responsibility in this matter my col-don, we may be sure it has been the case particular-that is why I feel special has been the case in the County of Lon leagues, with my assent, gave express in other parts of the country also. I do pledges and assurances at the time when not want to forestall in any way the con- the second of the two Military Servicclusions of the Committee which I am Acts was passed. I am quoting the words glad to see is going to be appointed, but of Mr. Long. He said: "We all want

4 venture to offer one or two suggestions that there shall be a time, and as early of what I have called the tribunals of

in the first place, I think the constituti a time as possible, when all these men first instance ought to be modified and who have been medically rejected shall improved. (Cheers.) I am sure it is not know that their cases have been revisol intended that it should be within the Tribunal, said that in the county of Mid- Mr. Nield, speaking as chairman of a and settled for all time; that is to say, competence of the president to overrule dlesex, there had been a scandalous want those who have been re-examined and the opinions of his colleagues. But is it of management at recruiting stations for 1. Rejections by the recruiting called up for service shall know what the practice that the president of these weeks past. geant of men who had seen no dator their duty is, that those who are rejected tribunals has overridden the opinion of spoken to in a manner in which wardora He knew of man being shall never again be barried and called his colleagues? If it is, the line of rewould not be allowed to speak to prison- up to undergo medical examination." form I should suggest is first and fore-ers. 3. Rejections of men by certain select The right hon. gentleman, with my full most that it should be clearly understood Sir W. Collins said the War Office corps on personal grounds;

assent, expanded that with these words: that there is complete parity of authority viewed the certificates of the family prac There is an impression that it is the in-between the different members of the titioners and consultants with suspicion. tention of the War Office to gat are medical board, and, next, that ag far as There ought to have been greater oppor- examination of the medically rejected possible the president of the board should tanity of access to special medical boards. ne, that the men examined a year ago employment of the War Office. (Chedra) of an Appeal Tribunal, that the earrying be a person who is not himself in the Sir W. R. Adkins said, as a member will not necessarily be rejected to-day I should be the last person to cast any out of the medical re-examination was in and that men rejected to-day may not reflection on members of the Royal Ariny most, if not in all its particulars, most necessarily be rejected in six months' Medical Corps, as I know from experi- unsatisfactory. time. That an entire misapprehension.ence what an admirable and well qualified Mr. Snowden declared that what had There is nis intention whatever to review body they are. those medical re-examinations." That was is of importance not only to have compescription, under which men's lives were But in these matters it happened was an inevitable result of con- the policy of the Government then, sail tence but to give confidence. I think in handed over to the military machine. that was the assurance given to the House the interests of everyone the presidents He knew of a man at Brauley, who had of Commons.

of these bodies should be independent and a wooden leg, who had been passed into private medical men. (Cheers.) Another the Army under this Act. When, in the early part of the present when men who have been wounded or suggestion I should like to maku ie that session, the Act, the administration of invalided have been recalled, and it has with the sanction and at the request of

PATRIOTIC MINERS. Mr. C. Edwards said that, speaking which We ні brought forward, it provided for what turn, the decision should be taken us miners in the centre of the South Wales now considering, was been decided that they are not fit to rea large number of public meetings and up to then had been refused the renewal final, of the medical examination of rejected

coal area, he called formally upon the misn. Those of us who thought, as I con

Mr. Bonar Law: I think that is the Government at once to take the young fess I thought, that a case had been made

unmarried miners for military service in Mr. MacPherson said he thought he out, sought to make it perfectly clear

THE WOUNDED AND INVALIDED.

stead of the older married men.

The had made it clear. The 80,000. A men that at any rate it should be administered from the information which reaches me.

Mr. Asquith: No it is not~(cheurs) Government would be told by their ex wight in course of time go into the in the spirit in which those original Men who have been wounded or invalided to the age of 31 could be taken, with ports that all the unmarried miners up fighting-line. It was said they were pledges had been given, and with the from the front have gone before one of calling up crippled mon to fight in the utmost consideration for all those per these tribunals, and they have been told classes. There were 573,000 men of mili

the exception of certain particular trenches, but labour in the Army was sons who might be brought under review different problem now, and any man who Mr. Bonar Low and Mr. MacPherson after some other specified interval. With wer unmarried and under the age of 23; to come agaiù in six months time, or tary age, who were badged, in the mines was aufficiently well to earn his liveli- assured us that that would be the case, this thing hanging over their heads, the 34,727 were unmarried men between 25 of the country. Of that number: 157,835, hood in a civil capacity could be used The House, I think reluctantly, acquiesced possibility of re-establishing themselves in the Army. It was forgotten in speeches in that, because there were many of us civil life on a basis completely disap: and 30; and just over 8,000 were unmar in the country that it required a man who thought, no doubt, like the Govern- pears. (Cheers.) In many of these cases there were 6,200 unmarried men under 31, and a half to keep a man in the trenches. ment themselves, that there were many cases of shell shock and so forth That gave a total of 205,000 unmarried ried and under 33. Taking other mines, It had also been said that alt men suffer. peoples in the country, young men, very is very uncertain and very decep miners under 31, of whom 117,000 were ing from wounds, neurasthenia, or who single men of military age, men who had tive, because an apparent recovery is fol had been gassed were being called up to taken no part, voluntary or otherwise, lowed by a recurrence of the old trouble, attested men. These men were over- go into the Service again. Mr. Mac in the conduct of the war, who might and the man is not really it for military taken. They could be taken without whelmingly desirous that they should be Pherson, continuing, said the Government very fairly be called upon to serve in service. I a perfectly certain the very in all those categories, add if any had tion, still more those who having served could be achieved by re-examining these Government had made was that they had agreed to an amendment excepting men priority to those who by medical referamall contingent hypothetical gain of the suspending the sight hours day or e- additional number for the Army which ploying the policy of the concentration been passed into the Service it was illegal at the front had been wounded and come

of production. and a mistake, and they would get their back here, should be first called upon to the hardship, injustice, and uncertainty the trade unions had been deliberately The great mistake the men is far more than counterbalanced by failed to recognise that the machine of discharge if their cases were brought to serve their country and undertake the in which you throw the whole of them the notice of the War Office Any man duty of active combatants. (Cheers.) by keeping this spectre if I may so call captured by the caucuses of the Indepen who had been illegally brought before & medical officer had only to fill in a form friend told us that he hoped, as a result MBONAR LAW

the industries. He had 50,000 miners in What has been the result? My hon it this possibility over them. (Cheers.) and these did not represent the men in dent Labour Party and the Syndicalists, and send it to the recruiting officer and of this Act, that there would be an he would hear nothing more about it. Recession to the Army of, I think, 60,000 to claim that we have not the right to ing was not true he was

Mr. Bonar Law. I should be the last his Mr. Hoge: Tell that to the marines, men capable of active service, and 80,000 the severest criticism if admitting the political

constituency, and if what he was say Mr. MacPherson: Bat Mr. Hogge and others. We will say you have got these necessity of this Act, we had not done should stop their peddling negotiations, was committing Mr. Pringle and others had advised men men, but no one can have listened to the everything in our power to carry it out, and deal with this situation, not through Government not to take the trouble to sign these forms speeches with which this discussion was not only with the least loss from the na- the officials of the union but with the man The right of the men had been made per introduced, and no member of this House tional point of view, but with the greatest at the pie Leads fectly clear. Undoubtedly men had been can recall the contents of his letter-bag possible amount of consideration for the Mr. Pringle withdrew his motion and discharged in the earlier stages of the in the course of the last six weeks, with men who are affected by it That is progrees was reported.

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