FIRST BALLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 223, 19 September 1940, Page 11

FIRST BALLOT.

TOTAL OF 16,000.

DRAW ON TUESDAY.

SERVICE AS TERRITORIALS.

WELLINGTON, this day. The drawing of the ballot to select recruits for the Territorial Forces will commence next Tuesday, September 24, said the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, in a statement to-day. He added that the total number of reservists to be selected for service would be 16,000. It ie estimated that the work could not be completed before the end of the week.

The total of 16,000 will be made up of district quotas, as follows:—Auck-' land, 2000; Paeroa, 1350, Whangarei, 1450; Hamilton, 2000; Wellington, 1900; Wanganui, 750; Napier, 1000; New Plymouth, 1000; Nelson, 750; Christ - church, 1900; Dunedin, 900; Invercargill, 1000.— (Prees Asen.)

The procedure to be followed, said Mr. Semple, while simple and practical, had been the subject of a great deal of thought and careful planning to ensure absolute fairness. The proceedings would be under the supervision of a stipendiary magistrate, and a representative of the Police Department would be present.

The Minister explained that every first division reservist was represented in the register by a typewritten card containing his full name, address, age, occupation and registration number, besides other particulars. These cards were arranged in trays of 500 each, in alphabetical order. Two ballot boxes would be used, the first to determine the order in which the trays should be placed on the tables, and the second to decide the cards which would be drawn from the trays.

Prior to putting the marbles in the ballot boxes they would be exhibited in the trays, so that the magistrate and other officials might assure themselves that no number has been omitted. The ballot for the position of the trays having been carried out, the marbles for the cards, which would be numbered from one to 500, would be put into the second ballot box, which would be revolved and one withdrawn. If, for the sake of illustration, this should be the number 253, it would be chalked up on a blackboard. Then attendants would select the appropriate card, without

withdrawing it, so that its identity could be determined even from the front of the tray.

After six marbles had been withdrawn from the ballot box, the responsible officers would paes down the rows of trays, and after satisfying themselves that the correct cards had been turned up they would wholly withdraw them, replacing each one with a blank card.

When it appeared that the quota for a certain district had been filled, a careful count would be made- of the cards removed from the trays,, and on this being found correct the registration numbers and names of the reservists drawn would be recorded by means of a dictaphone. Lists of the names and the addresses of men called up would then be prepared for publication in the "Gazette," and individual notices to the reservists concerned would be dispatched by registered post.

The "Gazette," which is estimated to contain more than 100 pages, will be published on the Wednesday following the taking of the ballot.

Mr. Semple again stressed the necessity for reservists to notify changes of address. With regard to appeals, he said reservists having been. drawn in a ballot wishing to appeal must do so within ten days of the "Gazette" notice, that was, not later than October 12. Appeals against territorial service must be sent to the secretary of the manpower . jmmittee for the district in which • the appellant resided.—(Press Assn.)