EFFECT OF THE BALLOT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 11

EFFECT OF THE BALLOT.

OCCUPATIONS OF THE MEN. THE LIST ANALYSED. An analysis of the list of men drawn in the first ballot in the Christchurch group shows that the numbers of men in each industry affected by the ballot are as follow: Accountants 2, advertisement writers 2, butchers 3, barmen 4, brewery hand 1, baker 1, biscuit worker 1, boot importer 1, beekeeper 1, cooks and pastrycooks 2, compositors 2, carriers 3, commerce agent 1, cashier 1, cabinetmakers 2, carpenters and joiners 8, clerks 12, chauffeur 1, canvasser 1, doctor 1, drivers 2, dairymen 3, drapers 2, engineering student 1, electrical engineers 5, fishermen 3, firemen 3, tanners 12, farm labourers 4, fellmonger 1, grocers 4, gardeners 4, glass polisher 1, hawker 1, insurance agent 1, jockeys 2, leadlight worker 1, law student 1, labourers 24, miner 1, machinists 3, managers and proprietors 9, mechanics 5, Methodist ministers 2, merchant 1, orchardists 2, photographers 2, plasterers 2, painter 1, police 2, preserver 1, piano tuner 1, plumbers 2, porters 6, strikers and blacksmiths 2, railway worker 1, range fitter 1, ropemakers 2, storemen 2, storekeeper 1, seamen 3, shearers 2, salesmen 2, telegraphists 3, traveller 1, timber classers 2, timber worker 1, taxi drivers 3, tramwayworkers 2, tailors 4, warehousemen and shop assistants 6, occupations not stated 21. CONSCRIPTION REPEAL LEAGUE. PRESIDENT DRAWN IN BALLOT. SAYS HE WILL NOT GO. Among those who have been drawn in the first ballot for military service is Mr Peter Ramsay, president of the Christchurch Conscription Repeal League. Mr Ramsay stated to-day that it was not his intention to apply to the Military Service Appeal Board for exemption. He was, and always had been, opposed on principle to war, and he had stated that very clearly on his National Register form. On the form sent him for application for enrolment under the Military Service Act he had reiterated his position, and had actually struck out that part of the printed form relating to application for enrolment in the reserve. "The reason why I will not apply for exemption to the tribunals," said Mr Ramsay, "is because I have no confidence or belief that it will consider my conscientious convictions on the subject, or be influenced by them. As I cannot under any circumstances accept service, it would be a farce for me to go before it, knowing that I could not submit to its decision." A CURIoUiF ERROR. Among the names of men called up in the first ballot is that of Arthur Haste, a farm labourer, of Bankside, Selwyn. It is stated that this man went to the front eight months ago with the 11th Reinforcement. He enlisted with an earlier draft, but had some difficulty in getting away, being finally accepted for the 11th. He has now been at the front for some months, and took part in the fighting on the Somme. It is, of course, inevitable that a certain number of mistakes such as this will occur, due to the names of. men who have been accepted for service not being removed from the register of the reserve. Haste enlisted in Christchurch, from an address in Gloucester Street, and probably he was not identified with the Arthur Haste, of Bankside.