THE REINFORCEMENTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5003, 18 October 1918, Page 5

THE REINFORCEMENTS

MARRIED MEM WITH THREE CHILDREN. FIRST BALLOT POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY. Press Association Telegram. . WELLINGTON. October 17. Owing to the postponement of the January and subsequent drafts, the fir'st ballot for Class D will not now he taken before February, so that the men of .this- class will concentrate at the earliest in June. The recruiting position is very strong. Drafts up to and including March are up. to strength. First Division voluntary recruits and appellants whose appeals have been dismissed unconditionally, will therefore he given leave till the draft concentrates at the, end of April. Second Division appellants similarly dealt with will have leave till the draft at the end of May. FURTHER DETAILS OF CONCENTRATIONS’. Press Association Telegram. WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. . The Defence Authorities have decided to' postpone the January reinforcements draft for a month. Men under orders for this draft will, therefore, not be required to eoncentrate until February 4th to Bth. This will mean in the ordinary course the postponement also of subsequent drafts not only in the case of men already summoned for February and March (who will now concentrate in March and April respectively, but also with th e men already to be summoned.

The Defence authorities are now in position to grant an extension of leave till January to any recruit due to parade from November sth to 9th. Any reservist who desires this extenion of leave until January must make application by letter to his Group Commander before October 26. and he will then be posted to the special draft which will proceed to camp between Janaury 7 and 11. Men summoned for November, who liave made their arrangements will be taken into camp. These changes do not in any way affect the concentration of men under orders to proceed to speciad Cl camp at Tanherenikau. As a result of tbo postponement of the January and subsequent drafts the first ballot of Class D reservists, (married men with three children) will not now take place before February.

THE NOVEMBER DRAFT. EXTENSION OP LEAVE. APPLICATION TO BE MADE BEFORE OCTOBER 26. Much interest was aroused amongst reservists and the public generally at the announcement in the Gisborne Times yesterday morning that a month’s extended leave had been granted to all Fit A men under orders to proceed to camp with the January, February and March drafts, and that men du e to proceed to camp with the November draft would have their leave extended until January, provided they applied by memo to the Group Commander by October 26. The arrangements, however, in no way affect the Cl men.

The announcement generally was received with much satisfaction, especially by the reservists, the majority of whom are married men with two children. Disappointment . was expressed however, by many citizens that the Government had not seen its way to extend a similar privilege to men classed a’s Cl who are due to leave Gisborne on Tuesday next. Inquiries at the Defence Office yesterday elicited the fact that during the day several applications had been received from men of the November draft. In each case the reservist was granted an extension of leave until the January draft. Captain W. McG. Turnbull. Officer Commanding the Poverty Bay group area, in the course of conversation with a Gisborne Times reporter explained that only those men due in camp with the November draft need communicate with the Defence authorities. In the cases of men who were to leave with the Januai y~ February and March . drafts their leave lias been automatically .extended for one month. The reservists due to leave with the November draft however must either pay. a personal visit to'the office or must communicate with the Officer Commanding bv letter, making a formal application. for an extension of leave until January. All applications received bv October 26 will be granted, but after that date all men who have not made application must leave lor camp on ‘November 5. Aoout hft> men P are included in the quota and it is anticipated that the great majority of these will apply for the extension of leave.