THE RED CROSS FUND (OTAGO).

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17089, 22 August 1917, Page 5

THE RED CROSS FUND (OTAGO).

Previously acknowledged £392 2 8 Tawanui Ladies' Guild, surplus - ( proceeds of sale of work ..: 10 14 0 " A humble Organ-grinder," weekly offering _ ... 02 6 Total ... .£402 19 2 THE REINFORCEMENTS. POSITION OF THIRTY-FOURTH AND THIRTY-FIFTH DRAFTS. ! COMBINED SHORTAGE OF 3731. ' (From Ode Own Correspondent ) m WELLINGTON August 21. The opportunity of First Division Reservists under 21 and of the Second' Division Reservists for voluntary enlistment in the Ibirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth Reinforcements, mobilising one month und tw months henca respectively, was closed down on Saturday Thj tenth ballot began today ; about 15,000 are to be drawn, leaving about 8000 men from which to obtain th<> thirty-sixth draft. The official returns wh.ch were made available to-day, show that 734 volunteers were obtained for the Thirty-fourth and 143 for the Thirty-fifth leaving respectively shortages of 1524 and 2307, or a combined shortage of 3731. The marked difference in the number of voluntary recruits obtained 'for tho two reinforcements is capable of explanation, • ? 1 ? ea secured f °r the Thirty-fourth include the last of the voluntary recruits from the First Division over 21 years of age, for whom voluntary enlistment was stopped two months ago. Thus the volunteers obtained for tho Thirty-fifth Reinforcements are restricted solely to men under 21 and to Second Division Reservists. The latter apparently prefer to hold off enlisting volunvisnly until the Fn-st Division is exhausted and also until tho better financial provision has been made for soldiers' dependents which has been promised. It is expected that when the oall is made for married men later on. and satisfactory separation allowances are granted, there will' be, a marked improvement in the rate of voluntary enlistment in New Zealand.

Ihe shortages for the various reinforcement drafts since the ballot was brought into operation have been as follows:— Shortage 23rd Reinforcements, 784; 24th Reinforcements, 585; 25th Reinforcements 1000; 26th Reinforcements, 1212; 27th Reinforcements, 922; 2Sth Reinforcements 1367; 29th Reinforcements, 1501; 30th Reinforcements, 1203; 31st Reinforcements, 170632nd Reinforcements 1898; 33rd njents, 1802; 34th Reinforcements, 152435th Reinforcements, 2207. ' Voluntary recruiting is now open for First Division Reservists under 21 and Second Division Reservists for the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Reinforcements.

ANZAC CLASS, MIDDLEMARCH. _ On Wednesday tho girls met. The follow\aZJ£ 6 thanked for work:—Misses Gamble M'Elhgott, Burnet, H. Fletcher, B. Beattie N. Renwick, M. Swan, Mrs Douglas Mrs Nottage, "Little Mary." '