SECOND BALLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 245, 15 October 1940, Page 8

SECOND BALLOT.

FOR TERRITORIALS.

REJECTIONS AND APPEALS.

Owing to the recent iurilot for service with the Territorial Font** failing to produce sufficient fit men, a second '■allot, on the Mime lines a* the first, is .to be held, stated an army officer to-day. Although no date lias been fixed, nor has any announcement been made as to the number of men involved, it is believed that the draw will be held shortly.

When lri.ooo men were balloted it was thought that there would be no difficulty in securing sufficient fit reservists from nk-h a number to bring the Territorial Forcm in the Dominion up to full establishment. However, the position diivlosed by the medical boards, and the number of appeabi made against service, has made it obvioth* that there would 4>e a serious shortage.

The position existing in the Auckland area of the Northern Military District may be taken as typical. The quota from the ballot was 2000. Of these only 1100 can be drawn on inuncdiateiv, for there are included 100 men who have enlisted in tlie Royal Xew Zealand Air Force, 200 who have enlisted in other units, including overseas troop*, and 644 in rcsjiect of whom appeals have been lodged with the Auckland Area Manpower Committee.

The board* have already dealt with »fts men. Of thc*e only 432 have been passed fit, 340 being classed temporarily unfit ami 223 permanently unfit. The immediate needs of the "area are $32 men, so that even if the entire 2000 balloted were available, there would still be a serious shortage of fit reservist*. While the medical examinations are progressing rapidly in Auckland, it will l>e nearly a fortnight before they are complete. The percentage of fit" men. which has been in the vicinity of 43, dropped sharply yesterday, when of 124 men examined only 4" passed. 53 being classified as temporarily unfit and 24 being permanently rejected. In addition. seven men with minor ailment* causing them to be placed in the temporarily unfit category were re-examined last night, five being passed as fit and two being rejected permanently.