RAILWAYMEN ON SERVICE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1018, 10 November 1917, Page 5

RAILWAYMEN ON SERVICE.

EXEMPTION TO BE SOUGHT. FOR SECOND DIVISION. (Pbb Peess Association.) WELLINGTON. Nov. 10. Mr R. W. MeVilly, Assistant General Manager of Railways, states that the Department has made a careful investigation with a view to discovering the minimum number of men with which the reduced time-table could be run. The railwaymen, as drawn m the ordinary military ballots, were put through a second ballot to select the numbei the Department could from time to time spare. The result oi tins piocess is that the last ballot oi the hirst Division men, due to be taken in about a week, and numbering about 200 names, will then be drawn in this instalment. Mr McVilly says that this not only exhausts the First Division men foi service, but also completes the numbei who can be spared consistently witn maintaining the present time-table. Actually about 200 railwaymen have been draw'n in the recent Second Division ballot, and for these men a straight-out exemption is to he appealed tor. The total number of men who have left the Department for the army is close upon 6000, of whom little oyer ;t(KX) were permanent, the rest being casual employees. About 4700 went up to last Christmas, and the rest under the ballot system. . , . , Mr McVillv is unable to state just how many nien have been examined under the ballot system. The arrangement was that, if of a number of men drawn some proved unfit, a similai number of lit men was found out o those unhallotcd to replace them. Oi those already drawn and eligible, the only ones not now with the Colours were those who had personal appeals lodged. ________