SECOND BALLOT TO BE HELD

Southland Times, Issue 24260, 18 October 1940, Page 6

SECOND BALLOT TO BE HELD

Men For Territorial Service

TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 17. The Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) announced today that a second ballot to select men for territorial service would be held next week, beginning on October 21. A Gazette would be issued on Wednesday, November 6. The men drawn in the first ballot were required to build up to war establishment those territorial units which were due to complete intensive training before the end of December. The second ballot is necessary to complete units which are to begin training early in January. The number to be drawn in this ballot is 34,000, which, after appeals, medical examinations and transfers to overseas forces, should make available 10,000 men for training in January and March, 1941. Mr Semple added that as soon as possible after the territorial ballot a ballot for overseas service will be held for the Sixth Reinforcements. FIXING OF QUOTAS To provide the number of men required by the Army authorities in each military area the following direct quotas have been fixed: — Auckland 8300 Paeroa 2000 Whangarei 2000 Hamilton 2300 Wellington 5600 Wanganui 1600 Napier 2900 New Plymouth 400 Nelson 400 Christchurch 5800 Dunedin 1700 Invercargill 1000 TOTAL 34,000 “This total has been estimated after allowing rejections on medical grounds, the allowance of appeals and the transfer of men to the overseas forces if they should subsequently be drawn in the overseas ballot,” said Mr Semple. “Approximately 10,000 will be available for training." The Minister said that nearly 9000 appeals in respect of a little over 7000 men had been received from, or on behalf of the 16,000 called in the last ballot. “The figures generally reveal that many must have been made where there was no real justification,” he said. The men, employers and others concerned must realize it is a useless dodge to appeal where the temporary absence of a reservist will cause no more than slight, even moderate, inconvenience.

“The object of holding the ballot for the 6th Reinforcements before Christmas is to give the men drawn the longest possible notice, so that they will have an opportunity to make what business and domestic arrangements are necessary, thus obviating a number of appeals for postponement of training which might otherwise be made,” Mr Semple explained. Those drawn in the territorial ballots were still members of the general reserve and the cards (temporarily withdrawn) of those between the ages of 21 to 40 inclusive will be restored to the register before holding the overseas ballot and subsequently drawn again in the overseas ballot. They will not ibe required to l egin training as territorials. They will be held back to begin training with the 6th Reinforcements for overseas, he concluded.

APPEALS AGAINST SERVICE

POLICY FOLLOWED BY COMMITTEES

WELLINGTON, October 17.

The policy to be followed by manpower committees in dealing with appeals by men or their employers is already clear in part, from decisions given by the Wellington committee on a number of cases already dealt with. Appeals by employers of certain groups of workers whose removal from their civilian occupations is considered not in the public interest have been adjourned sine die. Men dealt with in this way so far comprise ten engaged in aircraft production, eight ministers of religion, four fire brigadesmen, 16 policemen and 12 ships’ officers, engineers and radio operators. The calling up of students preparing for examinations and who have appealed has been postponed till November 20 in the case of degree or accountancy examinations and to December 20 in the case of matriculation. The appeal of one student who has been notified since that he has been granted a pass under the accrediting system has been dismissed. The appeals of seven men who have enlisted for service in the Air Force have also been dismissed.

The Education Board’s appeal case for eight primary teachers has been dismissed subject to the condition that the teachers shall not be called up before December 20, when the school year ends. The appeal of R. Hannah and Co. for six employees regarded as essential if factory production is to be maintained was heard, the company stating that the factory was engaged in the production of army, industrial and children’s footwear. The company’s representative said that at a pinch two of the men could be done without but the others were essential. The committee decided to dismiss the appeals of the two men referred to and adjourned the case of the others for six months and that of another man for three months.

The appeal of a building contractor, aged 35, a single man, who said his objection to serving was based on purely business reasons, was dismissed.

PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK

Public hearings of Southland appeals against selection in the ballot will begin before the Man-Power Committee next Wednesday and will continue on Thursday. The cases will be heard in the Supreme Court. This decision was reached by the Man-Power Committee after a . number of cases had been heard in private during the last two days. In a statement issued yesterday the committee announced that it had considered the appeals of a number of men. Postponements of service were granted in a number of instances, while others were set down for public hearing. _____