National Physique If the physical condition of men offering themselves
as recruits for the Regular Army were a fair test of the physique.of the working classes as a whole, the statement made by Mr. Hacking last Tuesday would be highly reassuring. • On the one hand the standard for acceptance had become higher—it was higher than would be required by any insurance company for a first-clasb -life. On the other hand the number of rejects had gone down from 60 per cent in 1931 to 45 per cent. in the present year. But it should be remembered that, thanks to unemployment pay, there are fewer men of the class near destitution which at one time supplied so many recruits to the army ; and also that a soldier's life is more attractive in itself and a better avenue of approach than it used to be to subsequent employment. But the percentage of rejections is still a more important fact than the recent improvement. The national standard is far too low.
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