MAILS FOR TROOPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1940, Page 5

MAILS FOR TROOPS

MR WEBB’S STATEMENT. . [per press association.] Wellington;- September is. “Advices received by the Post Qffice continue to show increased regularity in the arrival of mails in Egypt for New Zealand forces in the East,” said the Postmaster-General (Mr Webb) tp-night. “At the end of last month a large quantity of mail matter, which had been dispatched from New Zealand in May, and which had been subjected to heavy delay, was received-at the base post office in Egypt. This means, with certain exceptions, that pll surface mails dispatched from the Dominion up to the end of June have reached their destination. The exceptions comprise 19 bags of letters, etc.,’ and 98 bags of. parcels dispatched early in May, which Are believed’to have been lost, and 200 bags of letters, etc., and 143 bags of parcels which were on board vessels that were diverted after departure from port. "These diverted mails may have reached their destination since the dispatch of the advice on which the foregoing statement is based. ’ ' ’’ "

“Since the beginning of August .surface mails from Egypt have reached the Dominion regularly, mails having been received on August 6, 20, and 27, and September 8. It is also pleasing to note that air mails, both to and from the forces in Egypt, have added appreciably to the frequency of exchanges. Not a week goes by without one oi' more air mails being received from or dispatched to the base post office in Egypt.” TRENTHAM CAMP. WELLINGTON, September 18. Newspaper proprietors, managers, and editors from many parts of New Zealand attending the half-yearly conference in Wellington of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, to-day paid a visit of inspection to the army school of instruction, Trentham. They were accompanied by two members of the War Cabinet, Mr Jones and Mr Hamilton. The commandant of the school, Major Sugden, and other officers escorted them and explained the activities of the school. At the close of the tour the visitors were addressed by Mr Jones.

“TERRITORIALS” BALLOT. „ COMMENCE NEXT WEEK. WELLINGTON, September 19. The drawing of the ballot to select recruits for the Territorial Forces will commence next Tuesday, September 24, said the Minister of National Service (Mr Semple), in a statement to-day. He added that the total number of reservists to be selected for service would be 16,000. It was estimated that the work could not be completed before the end of the week. The total of 16,000 will be made up of district quotas, as follow:—Auckland 2000, Paeroa 1350, Whangarei 1450, Hamilton 2000, Wellington 1900, Wanganui 750, Napier 1000, New Plymouth 1000, Nelson 750, Christchurch 1900, Dunedin 900, and Invercargill 1000. PROCEDURE OUTLINED. The procedure to be followed, said Mr Semple, while, simple and, practical,* had been the subject b'f a great deal of thought and careful planning, to ensure the absolute fairness of the •proceedings, which would be under the supervision of a Stipendiary Magistrate, and in the presence of a representative of the Police Department.

The Minister explained that every First Division reservist was represented in the register by a typewritten card, containing his full name,, address, age, occupation, and registration number, besides other particulars. These cards were arranged in trays of 500 each in alphabetical order. Two ballot boxes would be used, the first to determine the*order in which the trays would be -placed on the tables, and the second to decide the cards which would be drawn from the-trays. Prior to putting the marbles in the ballot boxes, they would be' exhibited in the trays, so that the Magistrate and the other officials might assure themselves that no number had been omitted. The ballot for the position of the trays having been carried out, the marbles for the cards, which would be numbered from one to 500, would be put into the second ballot box, which would be revolved and one withdrawn. If, for the sake of illustration, said Mr Semple, this should be No. 253, it would be chalked up on a blackboard. Then the attendants would select the appropriate card, without, however, withdrawing it so that its identity could be determined, even from the front of the tray. After six marbles had been withdrawn from the ballot box, the responsible officers would pass down the rows of trays, and, after satisfying themselves that the correct cards had been turned up, they would wholly withdraw them, replacing each one with a blank card. When it appeared that the quota foi’ a certain district had been filled, a careful count would be made of the cards removed from the trays, and, this being found correct, the registration numbers and names of the reservists drawn would be recorded by means of a dictaphone. Lists of the names and addresses of the men called up would then be prepared, for publication in the Gazette, and individual notices to the reservists concerned would •be despatched by,,registered post. A Gazette,; which it was estimated would contain more than-100 pages, would be published on the Wednesday following the taking of the ballot, and copies would be available for inspection by the public at Post Offices throughout the Dominion, while the newspapers will publish the lists for the districts in which they circulate. ' Mr Semple again stressed the necessity ’ for reservists notifying changes of address, ’ and, with regard to appeals, said that Having been drawn in the ballot, and wishing to appeal, must do so within 10 days of the Gazette notice. That was not'later than October 12. Appeals against Territorial service must be sent to the secretary of the Manpower Committee for the district in which the appellant resided.

SPECIAL BADGES \ WELLINGTON, September 19. “In view of the fact that volunteering for service in the armed forces, except to meet limited requirements of the Navy and Air Force, ceased on July 22,” stated Mr. Jones, „ to-day, “the issue of special volunteer badges will no longer be continued. It - will

be understood, of course, that all those volunteering until July 22, to whom badges have been or are yet to be issued, are fully entitled to wear them. It should be fully realised also that, to-day, all eligible men are liable to selection by ballot, as the time comes for their group to be called up. It will be apparent, therefore, even to those foolish people who adopted the practice of distributing white feaththat under the ballot, there can be no slackers. From now on, the badge,

'as evidence of willingness to serve, is unnecessary. $ “However, there is another class of men whom the Government desire to give a well-earned distinguishing badge; the soldier, sailor or airman, disabled as the result of enemy action. We have been advised that the King has approved the issue in Britain of a special badge bearing the cypher of the sovereign and of a pattern easily distinguishable from that issued in the last war, to men invalided from

the armed forces, merchant marine, and fishing fleets. It is proposed that a badge be issued in similar circumstances in New Zealand, and necessary steps are being taken to secure His Majesty’s assent to this proposal. The badge will, I am sure, meet the position adequately.”