REJECTED VOLUNTEERS
SIR,—Mr. James Kinross' letter is indicative of the absurd attitude which is being adopted by Recruiting Authorities. My experience of the Joint Recruiting Boards at the Univer- sities is that they are doing their job well, but are hide- bound by Army and Navy red-tape Regulations which they cannot break through, and thus many good men—of the right type—are being lost.
Many applicants for the Navy find that the door to prospective officers is locked, bolted and barred, this being apparently a " reserved " occupation, reserved only for those who have some influential backing. Applicants for months past have been told " no vacancies " except for University graduates possessing an engineering degree, and probably few of these want to go into the Navy. Surely there must be the need for training prospective officers with other qualifications. I know of one case, at least, of a University undergraduate who has been trying for 12 months to get into the Navy, but no hope of a vacancy or even for training is given to him.
Another case recently brought to my notice is a young public schoolboy who has just completed a four years' train- ing at one of the best known colleges for training electrical engineers. This young man's practical knowledge of " sea- craft " would be envied by a cadet on a training ship, but because his engineering degree hadn't been obtained through a recognised " University " he was told he could not be accepted for the Navy!
Another inexplicable action on the part of the Army authori- ties has come to my notice. About 30o survivors of three " Business Men's " battalions raised in the last War still meet. together in a well-known Midland city. Some time ago they offered to man the balloon barrage companies and thus release younger men for more active service, as they had the trained personnel of ex-officers, N.C.O.'s and men. Their offer was declined, however, with the polite intimation that they could enlist individually if they wished! What an opportunity was here lost to save expense and to utilise the services of experienced men !—I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
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