SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3109, 13 June 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION

NO AGE FACTOR

AMENDED CLASSIFICATION

OLDER MEN FOR HOME SERVICE

The amended classification of the Second Division of the Expeditionary Forco Reserve, which lias been under tile consideration of the Beeruitiii" Board, was approved by Cabinet yesterday ' afternoon. Conveying the information to a Dominion reporter after tho meeting, Sir James Allen said that under the amended classification the Second Division would consist of sis classes, and that age would not be a factor in classification. The classes are as follow :— (a) Men between the ages of 20 and 4G years who have no ehiUldren. (i>) Jfen who havo one child, (e.) Men who havo two children, (d) Men who have three children, (o) Men who have four children, (f) Men who have more than four children. In all these classes the age is between 20 and 46 years. "I want to say witli regard to the question of dependants," said the Minister, "that it is not practicable in classifying this Second Division to take into account dependants other than. wivc3 and children, because the Government Statistician has no particulars as to the number of dependants of reservists, and it would not be possible to get this information without a great deal of inquiry. But those who have dependants other than wifo and children have ample protection, because they have the right to appeal to tho Military Service Board on account of undne hardship, nnd this is one of the reasons wliv the Military Service Boards were established. "I also desire to soy with regard to the men of *43, U, and 45 years of age, that in all probability we shall have- to make arrangements to allot them to the home service branch, because it is found that if they have come to the are of 45 when they h&ve reached England they aro not sent forward to the front in France. It has been found by experience that these men cannot stand the strain of campaigning a.s men of less age." EFFECT OF THE CLASSIFICATION WHEN WILL THE FIBST CALL BE MADE? The now . classification of the Second Division, which may be regarded as inal, provides a basis for some calculation as to the probable dates when, uiernjers of the various groups will become liable for service. Exact dates are not available, since some of the data is largely speculative. It is impossible to teil just when the first call on the Second Division will be made, and what proportion of the Second Division men will prove to bo fit for service In the Expeditionary 2*orce; but it may be assumed fairly confidently that a married man. with one child will not become liable for service under the compulsory clauses of the Military Service Act before December or January next. Tho first call on the men with two children each may Jpe made about fivo months later, that is, in May or June of next year. These dates cannot be taken as official, but they are not likely to be anticipated.

The number of men remaining in the First Division at the present time is in the neighbourhood of 30,000. It is likely that after the neit ballot, or possibly even earlier, (he remainder of the First Division will be called up en Woe. The men. will then be medically examined, and, if fit, drafted to Eeiiiforcements. This hastening of the ballot process wotild have the effect of simplifying the tnsk of tho recruiting branch in dealing with the Second Division, by supplying definite information as to the number of fit men remaining in the First Division, and it would facilitate thfl washmg-np" operations that have still to be undertaken in connection with that division. A certain amount of overlapping as between the divisions seems inevitable, but the Defence authorities desire to reduce it to a minimum.