GOING INTO CAMP

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16157, 11 March 1918, Page 6

GOING INTO CAMP

EARLIER THAN THEY EXPECTED. POSITION OF SECOND DIVISION MEN. A good deal of misconception has amen among Second Division Reservists regarding the order in which they go into camp. Tt has beon thought by many that they are only required to mobilise in the order of ballot in which they were drawn, but Saturday's Wellington "Post" states that it is officially explained that, though the Defence Department desires to give full effect to this principle, it cannot in practice be carried out. The only undertaking, indeed, that has been given is that each Second Division Reservist will be given throe months' clear notice, after date of medical examination, in which to proceed to- camp. This arrangement is boing fully observed, and will continue to be so in the future.

The position has been accentuated somewhat in regard to Class A, Second Division men {married men without children). Owing to the reduction in the reinforcement drafts and a consequent surplus of First Division men becoming available, it was found necessary _to postpone the date of the mobilisation of the first draft of tho Second Division until the end of May. This draft, which will concentrate at Trentham .during the period May 28th to June Ist, will bo known as tho 42nd Reinforcements. All Sceond Division men ordered to concentrate before that date havo accordingly received notice to parade to go into camp with tho 42nd draft. As the men to notified include a Considerable number who were drawn in the 2nd and 3rd ballots of Class A, Second Division, a certain amount of concern has been caused nmr.iig those affected. They, not unnaturally, considered that they would be postponed until tho 43rd or 44th Reinforcements, or in the order in which they were drawn, and havo thciofore been asking why it is that they are required to go into camp with those drawn in tho_first ballot of their class. The authorities explain that until a draft is full the practice is to post everv man who becomes Available on medical examination to particular draft in question, irrespective of tho number of the ballot in which he was drawn —that is, provided the Department in the t nsc of Second Division men »> able to give three months' clear nolice. aftor tho date of medical examination. In the case of Class A men it has happened, owing to the postponement of the date in which the first draft of tho class is required to go into camp, that men drawn in the 2nd and 3rd ballots have become available for posting to that particular draft —the 42nd Reinforcements. This has been brought about by reason of tho fact that jyon drawn in the earlier ballot or ballots had not previously been disposed of, owing to the lodging of appeals, and failure to attend for medical examination through sickness, etc. In this respect, however, Second Division reservists havo been placed s°,. 110 worse position than those of the First Division. The same procedure through force of circumstances has been adopted with First- Division men all along; they have not comolained. and it is not expected that Second Division men. knowing the position, will complain either. The 42nd draft mobilising at the end of May was filled ten days ago, and men now passc-a as fit are being posted to the 43rd Reinforcements going into camp a month later. It is announced that if it is found ill a few weeks' time a surplus is created for the 42nd Reinforcements owing to a larger number of Division men becoming available than is at present anticipatea— ihe position is regulated by tho number of fits obtained from CI camp .and the extent of medical rejections in 'Jrentham and Featherston —it may be necessary to make a eut in those notified to concentrate for the 42nd draft. If becomes necessary, first preference will be given to those drawn in the third ballot, and nest preference to those drawn in the sccond. As far as men classoi CI are /■pncerned, the position is somewhat dinercnt. This is regulated bv_ the circumstance that there is no limit to thp strength of a Cl draft. The result is that n;en classed Cl are posted to the next Cl draft going into camp, lhis, however, is subject to the proviso that no man is sent into camp before th" first draft of his particular class in the Expeditionary Force Reserve, and, ill tho case of Second Division men also, tbut each ir.un receives tiirce montljs clear notice from the date of his medi-,-al examination. Thus, with Second Di v ision men no Class A man, wiictner passed r.s Fit A or Cl. is required to concencnte neforc- the first draft of liis class. Though drawn in tho later barlots, thev milv, ho*ever, be required to parade witii the first drafts of their class. Tho same will apply to B class men and to later classes.