SIXTH BALLOT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9632, 12 April 1917, Page 5

SIXTH BALLOT

CLOSED YESTERDAY. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS The drawing of the sixth ballot under tlie Military Service Act for the purpose of selecting 4.812 First Division Reservists to complete the drafts for the 30th Reinforcements was concluded by 3-30 p.m. yesterday. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) congratulated and complemented Mr -Malcolm Fraser (Government Statistician), the supervising magistrate (Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M.), and the statistician’s staff on the admirable system, the absolute impartiality, and the commendable speed with which tlie ballot had been conducted; and also upon the new offices, loftier and more commodious and convenient, in which their work was carried out. In replying on behalf of Mr McCarthy, iiis staff, and himself, Mr Fraser thanked the Mayor for what he had said. Tho Mayor, he stated, had rendered signal service to the department by his constant attendance at all the ballots, practically from the drawing of the first card to tho last, for on the one or two occasions when the -Mayor could not attend, the town clerk (Air J. R. Palmer) had taken his place, and by his consistent testimony to the absolute fairness of the ballots. Mr McCarthy and he himself had statutory duties to perform in connection with the ballot, but that was not tho case with the Mayor, who, however, ns representing the general public, had made it a point to be present, either himself or by representative, throughout each ballot. And they, as officials, very much appreciated Air Luke’s presence, as it was an additional guarantee to the public that everything was just ns it should be.