THE SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3187, 11 September 1917, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION

STRENGTH OF THE CLASSES. \ 'The first ballot in the Second Division is likely to take place about the end or next month. ,The Defence authorities proposed originally to hold it at tho' middle of the month, but the classification of tho division, which is now proceeding, is proving a lengthy business. It appears that there are 19,000 reserv-<-ists in Clasß A (married men without children), and from 20,000 to 25,000 men each in Classes B (one child), C (two children), D (three children), and E (four children). Class A contains a certain number of men who have. been posted there as doubtful, they having omitted to state in their registration forms whether or not they had any children. But there is reason to believe that this class win provide two drafts, and it might possibly provide three with the addition of young men just reaching military age. Over 400 young men reach the ago of twenty years and aro posted to the First Division ev?ry month. Provision is to be made for passing these men direct into the forces, if they are medically fit, after the exhaustion of the First Division, and the recrrits from this source" will reduce the demand upon the Second Division. . \

The ratio in drawing upon the Second Division is to to four to ono, that is, four , names drawn for each recruit actually required. If this proves to be too 'it .will he increased.- The proportion of fit men in the early classes, of the Second Division probably is higher than in tho last few thousands of the First Divrsion, from which a 1 very large number of fit men has been withdrawn by voluntary enlistment. The amendment to be 1 made this session to tho Military Service Act will proVide for the calling up without ballot of youths reaching military age and of classes or remainders of classes when the number of'men contained does not_ exceed the number required. Thus, if a balance from Class A, with the youths reaching military age, failed to provido a complete reinforcement, they mi?ht all be called up without ballot, and ?hen a ballot taken in Class B to the shortage. The district system, it is understood, is to be dropped, in connection with the_ Second Division, owing to tho comparative smallness of the.classes. Instead of drawing a quota from each district, the Defence authorities will treat the Dominion as one.district. LEAGUE EESOLUTIONS. ■ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Napier, September 10; The executive of tho Napier Second Division league carried tho following resolution to-night: "That tho executive of the Napier Second < Division League enter its protest against tho proposal of Hhe Government to call-up Second Division reservists before declaring its attitude in the matter of pensions and separation allowances."

Timaru, September M. A meeting of the Timaru Second Division League to-night passed resolutions supporting the decisions of the league's conference,- and urging Cabinet, with a view to shaping the necessary! to hold a round-the-table conferenco with league representatives.

Tho Temuka League, at an emergency meeting, protested against the calling up of Class A or holding a ballot before the passing 'Of legislation amending allowances and pensions.