THE BALLOT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 872, 25 November 1916, Page 2

THE BALLOT.

"WINNING MARBLES." WHAT THE STAFF THINKS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 25. It is stated that- the inauguration of the ballot will be specially welcomed by the Permanent Staff men, who hitherto have not been allowed to volunteer for service, and have had to remain behind and do their duty in New Zealand as ordered. Many of these men are included in the First Division of the Reserve, and in the first ballot several have hud their names drawn. The Defence Department, being in the same position as other employers, so far as appeals are concerned, is obliged, if it desires to retain a man as indispensable, to make good its case before the Appeal Hoard. The authorities do not desire to deny to such men as have had the luck of drawing a Avinning marble the opportunity of service abroad which they have been awaiting so long, and announces, therefore, that it will not exercise its right of appeal, as an employer, for these men to be retained in New Zealand if it can possibly spare them. In the present cases, the department will not appeal. NOTIFYING THE MEN. The procedure which was adopted in connection with the sending out of notices to the men called up, as a result of the first ballot, is different from that which was anticipated. It was understood that the lists would be sent to the area group oilicers for checking, and that they would send out the individual notices. But it appears that the checking of the lists was done by the Base Records Office, and that the telegraphed notices to the men were sent out from the Adjutant-General's office. The official lists for Canterbury are expected to be received by" the district headquarters office on Monday, for distribution among the area group officers, who will then notify men to report at the various group offices.