FOURTH BALLOT NEXT MONTH

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 4

FOURTH BALLOT NEXT MONTH

OVERSEAS SERVICE NAMES GAZETTED ON MARCH 4 (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 8. An announcement that the fourth ballot under the National Service Emergency Regulations would begin shortly was made by the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) tonight. “The men to be drawn,” he said “would be required for overseas service, most of them being for the 7th Reinforcements, although I understand a small number may be required to make up shortages of the 6th Reinforcements. The number of men to be selected is 19,000, and the names will be gazetted on March 4. Every effort will be made to have the men medically examined at the earliest possible moment, and, as the Appeal Boards arc now functioning, the hearing of appeals will be handled with all expedition so that the men concerned and their employers will have sufficient time to make any necessary domestic or business arrangements. As was the case in the previous overseas ballot, all appeals against service must be sent to the Director of National Service, Wellington, for transmission to the Armed Forces Appeal Boards. “Many people,” said Mr Semple, “are under the impression that appeals can be lodged at any time. In fact, some individuals attempt to appeal when the men concerned are actually in camp. I would point out: (1) Appeals cannot be lodged before a man is called up by ballot for service. (2) When a man is called up the appeal period is 10 days from the date of the Gazette, and, in respect of this ballot, appeals must be delivered or posted to the Director of National Service by March 14, (3) Appeals forwarded after that date can be heard only at the discretion of the respective Armed Forces Appeal Boards, and these bodies require to be satisfied that the delay in lodging the appeal was caused by a mistake or some other reasonable cause. Even these boards are limited in their discretionary powers as they are able only to extend the time for a further month. That is to say, any appeals received after April 14 cannot be heard. (4) The Director of National Service, however, has the right to institute an appeal at any time on the ground of public interest.

PAST MISUNDERSTANDINGS “I have explained this in detail,” said the Minister, “so that all may be aware of the position and so that misunderstandings, which were apparent in connection with the last overseas ballot, due to lack of knowledge of the provisions of the regulations, will, to some extent, be avoided.” The Minister also stated 'that _ the men selected for service would be given the option of transferring to the AirForce if they had the required qualifications. “In order to enable this to be carried out expeditiously,” said Mr Semple, “arrangements are being made for an application form to be sent to each man called up at the same time as the individual notices are posted advising men that they have been drawn in the ballot.” Asked if consideration would be given to the question of a further ballot for the territorial forces, Mr Semple replied that this matter was at present under discussion, but, as many of the men selected for overseas service previously had been drawn for territorial service, which they would not now undertake, it was anticipated that a ballot for territorial service would beundertaken as soon as possible after the overseas ballot.

The Minister stated, however, that further information would be given on this subject at an early date.