THE FIRST BALLOT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 24, 8 November 1940, Page 3

THE FIRST BALLOT

NEARLY 50 PER CENT. APPEAL.

MOST ON REASONABLE GROUNDS,

(Per Press Association)-. WELLINGTON, November 1. Further reference to appeals against being called up for territorial sow ice was made to-day by the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple). “As I have previously stated,” said the Minister, “appeals have .been received from or on behalf of nearly 50 per cent, of the men called up in the first ballot. Although I personally have nothing whatever to do with the allowing or dismissing of them, I have informed myself regaining the nature of the appeals being made. By far the greater proportion of them are based on reasonable grounds; but no inconsiderable number can best be described as frivolous, and I am sure the Manpower Committees will give them short shrift. There was an instance of a man wishing to spend several months on a visit to relatives before going into camp. Another asked to have liis service postponed in order that he might assist liis landlady in connection with a prospective move to other premises. A third wished’ to purchase a car and obtain a driving licence, which he appeared to think would assist him in his military career. Those that I have quoted are, of course, extreme instances; but there arc hundreds of cases where it is obvious no real effort has been made to meet comparatively trivia] inconveniences which would arise from the absence of a recruit, which, after all, is only for three months.

'“I must, however, give credit where it is due, and that is to the great number of employers who have refrained from appealing on behalf of their employees, even at the expense of some disorganisation of business and loss to themselves. Most of the employers’ appeals which have been received are in respect of men in key positions and are quite justified. When such is the case, short postponements are being given to permit arrangements, being made to release the men concerned at a later date.”