THE REINFORCEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16833, 25 April 1918, Page 6

THE REINFORCEMENTS.

The ballot list published to-day brings the realities of war nearer than ever to many New Zealand homes. All single men have been drawn, the A class of the married men goes to camp next month, and to-day's list is the first of New Zealand fathers balloted for service. It is, for the State as well as for the individual homes, a grave matter for husband to leave wife and father to leave children,, but the Germans have so threatened civilisation that the call must be made and answered. Hoping for a brighter war outlook the Government has sought to avoid the summons to the men now drawn. How long they have held it back may be gathered from the New Zea land war correspondent's description, published yesterday, of the two urgent messages for reinforcements sent early this month to the New Zealand base camp in France. There was no hesitation upon that pressing occasion, and the eligible men still in New Zealand must respond with the same alacrity if Mr. Lloyd George's appeal is to be honoured, and the New Zealand force on active servico adequately supported. However painful the wrench, the Second Division will follow the First ungrudgingly to camp, and emulate its spirit in the field. It is entitled to be assured, as a condition of its going, that First Division men should not bo lightly exempted and left in comfort at homo while husbands and fathers are sent to the front. There is a strong impression abroad that the time has arrived for a review of exemptions. The position to-day is that for every First Division reservist exempted, a married man has to step forward. This is a condition which no appellant for exemption, and do Military Service Board considering such claims, should be permitted to forget.