THE TENTH BALLOT.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3300, 24 July 1917, Page 3

THE TENTH BALLOT.

POSTPONED FOR A MONTH. STATISTICIAN TOO BUSY. In normal circumstances the tenth ballot under the Military Service Act, to make good the shortage in the 34th Reinforcement, which is due to mobilise for training in the second week in September, would have commenced this week. The Government Statistician has reported to tho Minister of Defence, however, that owing to the extraordinary pressure of urgent business iv his branch, due to: (a) Police action under section 44 of the Act, (b) the Order-in-Council requiring reservists of the Second Division to notify him of any change in the number of their children, and (c) preparations necessitated by the several Proclamations extending the provisions of the Military Service Act to natives, it will be practically impossible for him to tako the ballot at tho usual date, or, indeed, for tho next two or three weeks. It has therefore, been decided to postpone the tenth ballot for four weeks and to then combine it with tbe eleventh ballot aud call up double the usual number of reservists in order lo supply the deficiencies in the 34th and 35th 'Reinforcements. This arrangement- will also enable the Defence medical authorities to complete the examination of the reservists who have been called up iv previous ballots. There is still a large number to be examined. The postponement will iu>< interfere in any way with tbe mobilisation or regular despatch of reinforcements from the Dominion.