THE SECOND DIVISION

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5488, 16 May 1917, Page 2

THE SECOND DIVISION

STRENGTH OF ITS CLASSES What most of the . people of the Dominion want to know just now is when the Second Division will be called up, how many men are in the Division, and about what date each class of the Division may expect its call. These questions cannot be answered exactly, but they can be answered approximately, and they are of great importance to all concerned. These concerned are almost the whole of the people of New Zealand.

To begin with, there were originally about 120,000 men in the Second Division. That total has been reduced by tlie numbers of married men who have gone to the war. However, the strength of the Division should still be over 100,000, and for purpose of calculation there is no need to make a deduction just now. ' >v The number of husbands, widowers, etc., of military age (according to the latest available census) are shown in the following table Age of Group. Husbands, etc. 20 to 2l 160 21 to 25 4.640 25 to 30 22,450 30 to 35 33,450 35 to 40 30,800 40 to 45 ...... 26,500 Total 118,000 The classification of the division is:— (a) All men without children. (b) Men from 20 to 35 with one and two children. (c) Men from 35 to 46 with one and two children. (d) Men up to 35 with three and four children. . (f) All men with more than four children. In round figures the conjugal condition of the married men of military age may be set down as follows: Children. Men. None 10,000 One 24,000 Two • 22,000 Three 14,000 Four 10,000

It Is worth noting that these raen umber 80,000. It appears that the numbers of mem in the various classes are:— Class A ; 10,000 Class B 30,0001 Class C 15,000 Class D 15,000 Class E 10,000 These are the approximate figures, 'lhe next thing is to arrive at about the dates on which the men may expect to look toward Trenhtam. It seems unlikely that the First Division will bo exhausted before the end of this yearThere are nearly 40,000 men left in it. The last draw went to the extent of 8500. If this rate were maintained, thedivision would survive only about four moro draws which means about four more months. That would take us along to September. Had any move been niado in the direction of holding a washing-up of the First Division, it is possible that the Second Division would not be called before, the end of the year, but the present indications are that while the year will not see the exliausv tion of the First Division, it will see the commencement of- the Second Division ballots. In fact to be on the safe side, it is well to set down October next as the starting point for Second Division ballots. All the Second Division men. of course, will not be sent, and it will lie necessary to reduce, the total of the Division by about half, to provido against unfitness, exemptions, etc. The reduction will leave the classes at the following strengths:— Class A 5,000 Class B 15,000 Class C 7,500 Class D 7,500 Class E 5,000 If the strengths of the drafts is kept at 2300, the dates of balloting for the various classes of the Second Division may be set down as follows: Class A—October, 1917. Class B—December, 1917. Class C—June, 1918. Class D—September, 1918. Class E—January, 1919. Class F—March, 1919.