FIRST BALLOT NEXT WEEK

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23130, 20 September 1940, Page 10

FIRST BALLOT NEXT WEEK

RECRUITS FOR THE TERRITORIALS

MINISTER EXPLAINS PROCEDURE (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. September 19. The drawing of the ballot to select recruits for the territorial forces will commence next Tuesday, September 24, said the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) in a statement to-day. He added that the total number of reservists to be selected for service would be 16,000, It was estimated that the work could not be completed before the end of the week. The total of 16,000 will be made up of district quotas as follows; Auckland .. .. .. 2000 Paeroa .. .. .. 1350 Whangarei .. .. .. 1450 Hamilton .. .. .. 20Q0 Wellington .. .. 1900 Wanganui .. .. .. 750 Napier .. .. .. 100New Plymouth ~ .. 1000 Nelson .. .. ~ 750 Christchurch .. 1900 Dunedin .. ' .. .. 900 Invercargill .. .. 1000 The procedure to be followed, said Mr Semple, while simple and practical, had been the subject of a great deal of thought and careful planning to ensure absolute fairness of proceedings, which would be under the supervision of a Stipendiary Magistrate and in the presence of a representative of the Police Department. The Minister explained that every first division reservist was represented in the register by a typewritten card containing the full name, address, age, occupation, and registration number, besides other particulars. These cards were arranged in trays, 500 to each, in alphabetical order. Two ballot boxes would be used, the first to determine the order in which the trays were to be placed on the tables, and the second to decide the cards which would be drawn from the trays. Before putting the marbles in the ballot boxes they would be exhibited in trays so that the Magistrate and other officials might assure themselves that no number had been omitted. Added Precautions The ballot for the position of the trays having been carried out, the marbles for the cards, which would be numbered from one to 500, would be put into a second ballot box which would be revolved and one withdrawn. If, for the sake of illustration, said Mr Semple, this should be No. 253, it would be chalked up on a blackboard. Then the attendants would select the appropriate card, without, however, withdrawing it, so that its identity could be determined even from the front of the tray. After six marbles had been withdrawn from the ballot box, responsible officers would pass down the rows of the trays, and, after satisfying themselves that the correct cards had been turned up, they would wholly withdraw them, replacing each one with a blank card. When it appeared that the quota for a certain district had been filled a careful count would be made of the cards removed from the trays, . and, this being found correct, the registration numbers and names of the reservists drawn would be recorded by means of a dictaphone. Lists of the names and addresses of the men called up would then be prepared for publication in the Gazette, and individual notices to the reservists concerned would be dispatched by registered post. The Gazette, which is was estimated would contain more than 100 pages, would be published on the Wednesday following the taking of the ballot, and copies would be available for inspection by the public at Post Offices throughout the Dominion, while the newspapers would publish the lists for the districts in which they circulated. Mr Semple again emphasised the necessity for reservists notifying changes of address. He said that reservists having been drawn in the ballot and wishing to appeal must do so within 10 days of the Gazette notice. That was not later than October 12. Appeals against territorial service must be sent to the secretary of the Manpower Committee for the district in which the appellant resided.