SECOND BALLOT REQUIRED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 244, 16 October 1940, Page 6

SECOND BALLOT REQUIRED

TO FILL TERRITORIAL VACANCIES DOMINION-WIDE BASIS DATE NOT DISCLOSED l Ver l’i«* Aswciatiou. ] AUCKLAND, O<t. 15. Oning to the tact that the ballot held recently to till vacancies in the Territorial lorces produced an insufficient number of men, a second ballot of similar nature is to be held on a Dominion-wide basis, a military officer stated to-day. Neither the date nor the number of men to be drawn is yet available. With only about 44 per cent, passed fit among the Auckland area men selected in the Territorial ballot who have been medically examined, some misgivings may be felt as to the seemingly poor physical standard of the nation’s manhood. That the position is probably not nearly as serious as it appears is suggested by several factors which indicate that these men are not representative, from t’ne medical or health viewpoint, of their age-group. nor of the country s male population generally. For practicable purposes, the men selected in the ballot were all single. It must be remembered that from this age-group thousands of single, eligib.e. fit men have already entered the armed services under the voluntary system and are now in the three echelons. the reinforcements, the existing Territorial establishments, the Navy or the Air Force. The total of these men alone would no doubt raise considerably the percentage of fit men in the age-group generally. Married Men Fitter Taking the view that a principle similar to that of the survival of the fittest is involved, some people believe that the balloted men include many who. through physical disabilities of t arious types, have not sought or been sought in marriage. Arguing on these lines, doctors predict that medical examinations ot married men drawn in future ballots will result in a much higher percentage ot fitness. This point cannot be taken too far, however, for it is obvious that the younger men’ in the group can hardly be regarded as of marriageable age. Among those still to be examined are a fairly large number of public servants, whose names, it is understood. have been forwarded to Wellington so that their department heads may consider the necessity of appealing for exemption or otherwise. Having regard to the physical standards which their employment normally demands, it is suggested that 1 when they come up for medical examination it will be found that more . than 44 per cent, prove fit. Tne | weight of this argument will be; proved or disproved this week, when I it . hoped to complete the medical examination of all men in the Auckland area called in the ballot. Inclusion of Invalids The comparatively low percentage of fitness revealed so far has also been partly due to the inclusion in the oallot of a number of men " ho. on the information possessed by the National Security organisation through Social Security register, should have been left o'-tt- , In this category ate men already ,n receipt of invalidity pensions, the granting of which is dependent upon the receipt of a certificate from a doctor appointed by the Social Security Department stating that the man is totally unable to earn a living. Last week severa. men from the Blind Institute were called up ;or examination. Some men. again, hare reported on crutches, while there have been further cases where the reservists have been so obviously unsuitaole for service that the doctors have mt proceeded with the examinations. FIRST BALLOT BELIEVED SUFFICIENT NEXT WILL FILL JAM ARV QUOTA I Pei Press Association. j WELLINGTON. Oct. 15 Mr Hunter said that the assumption of a report from Auckland that the ballot held recently to fill vacancies in the Territorial forces had produced insufficient men and that a second ballot of a similar natuic was to be held on a Dominion-wide basis, was entirely incorrect. Nobooy could possibly say what number the ballot would 'finally produce, tor the appeals had not been heard and the medical examinations were incomplete, but the indications were that the number called up in the ballot was about right to produce the number of men required. The scheme of training provided ,or its being spread over the training season and the first ballot was held to produce men who were to bring up to war strength the Territorials who went into camp in October. The next ballot was to bring the January quota to war strength.