RECRUITING SHORTAGES

Evening Star, Issue 16257, 28 October 1916, Page 6

RECRUITING SHORTAGES

TO BE MADfe UP BY CONSCRIPTION AFTER NOVEMBER 11. CABINET’S DECISION. The Hon. J. Allen, acting chairman of the rflt^ , ,eiifc°:- BOarCl ’ EUPpHeS the ntuf is not Possible, owing to the mactmery preparations being still incomplete, to take a ballot at iba present time, it has , c ] e s lde 'l 1,0 rely on voluntary recruiting fnr P «° Vlll ov t j e -o n ® n c to meet requirements tor tbe 23rd Reinforcements, which include ell s.iortages for previous drafts. The quota w f 1 i ? cruitin S district has now been eased on tho estimate prepared by the KJov nimeut tefcatistician of the men remaining Division of tho Reserve, and of the Defence Department, with dm assistance of local committees, have mt, 1 d hnd , the required by the 11th -November, when thl 23rd Reinforcenients are due to mobilise for training. The Recruiting Board have been advised that the Government Statistician will then bo in Service Vct° & kallot und er the Military

In view of that information, the board have decided, with the approval of Cabinet, that voluntary enlistment for the 24th draft is to cease on the 11th November, and that a bailor is to be taken in the ensuing week to make good any shortage in the Eeinforcements then existing. This means that recruiting for the 24 th Reinforcements will close a month before tho draft goes into camp, so as to allow time for a ballot to bo taken and appeals to be lodged and heard and the strength of the reinforcement completed before mobilisation. Voluntary enlistments will then be accepted for the' 25th and 26th Reinforcements until the 9tb December, when voluntary enlistment for the 25th Reinforcements will cease, and a ballot wid be taken to make good any shortage. It-must be understood, however, that if a man who volunteers while the ballot is in progress is called up to make good « shortage, his voluntary' enlistment will be cancelled, and bo will thereupon he under the orders of the Defence authorities as a soldier of the Expeditionary Force. This system will continue for all subsequent reinforcements! Voluntary recruiting for each draft will cease one month before the draft is due to go into camp for training, in order to allow time for any shortage to be made good by means of a ballot.