THE SECOND DIVISION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16142, 21 February 1918, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION.

, APRIL DRAFT TRANSFERRED TO MAY-JUXE. FIRST BALLOT IX CLASS i- EARLY IX JUNE. (THESS ASSOCIATION TTLF.GKAM.) "WET, LTX G T OX. February 'JO. As it was found possible* to supply tho recruits required for tho ;lt>th and 37th Reinforcement.- from tho men in camp, the draft mobilise.l iliis month became* the ;JSth Reinforcements. With that drntt, plus tho men under orders to arrive in ramp in March and April, thcro will bo sufficient- men in camp to provide th.? draft set dnwn lor mobilisation at tho end of April. Orders have been given in accordance -with the statement made by the Defence Minister, that all Second Division men under orders for the April draft must lie transferred to the MayJune draft, unless tho men thoms-elves would be inconvenienced by tho dolny. This does not apply to married men of tho First Division under orders to proceed to camp with the April draft. All Second Division men clashed CI aro to have their leave extended to tho date of tho concentration of the CI draft in June. Tho first ballot in Class B of the Second Division—married men with ono child—will be taken, according to present arrangements, early in June, and the names of the select c\l men will be published in the ''Gazette" of June 18 th. FIXAXCIAL ASSISTAXGE BOARD'S ADMINISTRATION. (special to "the tbess.") WELLINGTON, February 20. A very damaging attack has been made cn tho administration of the Financial Assistanco Board by tho Second Division League. Numbers of cases have been cited, and this is, in fact, the only way in which anything can be alleged against the Board, which claims to deal •\yith every caso on its merits. Tho Minister of Defence has asked to be supplied with names, in order th.it. he may make examination of the facts. Ho suggests that the League has not fully disclosed the facts regarding tho individual cases, aiid in tho meantime lie asks the public to suspend judgment. A convenient opportunity will present itself to tho Minister to make a full statement when a deputation of tho Second Division League waits upon him to-morrow. He is not yot prepared to make a statement.