The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1916. THE FIRST BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1916. THE FIRST BALLOT

The shortage in the number of men required to make up the strength of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Reinforcement drafts was not unexpected. Some 4386 recruits were needed, and 3027 attested; the shortage for the two drafts, _ therefore, being 1359 men, who will require to be selected by ballot as prescribed by the Military Service Act of last session. The selection will be made from the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, which is composed of (a) unmarried men, (b) married men whose took place subsequently to the first dav of March, 1915, except such as have a child under 16 years of age by a previous marriage, (c) widowers with no children under 16 years of age, (d) men whose marriage has been dissolved or who are judicially separated from their wives and who have no children under 16 years of age. The method of balloting has been fully explained and the safeguards provided ito ensure absolute fairness afford the fullest assurance that the selection will be absolutely impartial. It has been evident for some time past that" the voluntary system of recruiting' would not produce the full quota required to maintain the reinforcements necessary to keep faith with the men who have already gone forward to the fighting ypes, and the only alternative to a dishonourable abandoning of our obligations was the selection 4>y ballot under a compulsory system of the men required. It is to the credit of the Auckland, Nelson and Wangamu recruiting districts that they have been able to supply their quotas of the- Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Reinforcements by voluntary enlistments, and Hawke's Bay and Taranaki have also done well, the former in sending its full quota for the Twenty-third, and the latter its full quota for the Twenty-fourth Reinforcements. The three first-named districts will be excluded from the ballot, that is to say. none of the Reservists in those districts will be included in the list of names from which the shortage of 1359 men will require to be made up. .The fact that the Military Service Act- is now to be enforced in connection with the filling'of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Reinforcement drafts does not mean that the voluntary system is at an end. On the contrary, voluntary enlistments will continue to be received for the Twenty-fifth and lwenty-sixth Reinforcements, and already in some districts active efforts are being put forth to secure voluntary recruits for these drafts. The taking of the ballot to fill up the shortages in the Reinforcement drafts does not imply that every man who is chosen by the chance of the ballot will necessarily be called on to serve. Following on the drawing of lots will come the medical examination, and also the right of appeal for exemption. Many of those who are drawn will bo found to be medically unfit, and many others may appeal to the Military Service Board. A very serious duty is thrown on these Appeal Boards in the matter of adjudicating on the-claims for exemption. The chief grounds on which appeal may bo lodged are: ' (1) That by reason of his occupation his calling up for service is contrary to the public interest; (2) that by reason of his domestic circumstances or for any other reason his calling up for military servico will be a cause of unduo hardship to himself or others. There is also a clause of restricted application for religious objectors, who may bo excused from bearing arms, bu may be called on to serve in a non-com-batant capacity._ It may bo taken for granted that the proceedings of these appeal tribunals will be very carefully followed by the public and their decisions closely scrutinised. On the judgment, "discretion and common sense of the members of the Appeal Boards the smooth and successful working of the system will largely depend. It is well that-it should be borne in mind that any attempt to evada the provisions of the Act or to incite any person to evade servico or refuse duty renders the offender liable to a heavy penalty.