THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2920, 4 November 1916, Page 8

THE BALLOT

All New Zcalanders who wish to see thoir country discharge its responsibilities in the war without slackening or falling short in any respect will have noted with satisfaction that arrangements have now been almost completed lor putting into operation the system, under which men will be selected by ballot :to ' fill future reinforcement drafts. In about ten days . the machinery of the ballot will be in, fullworking order, and a guarantee -is thus given, which could be given in no other way, that there, will be no default in the dispatch of reinforcement drafts, and that they will leave punctually. and at' full strength. It is hardly neccssary to dwell .upon the importance of tho •interests and obligations thus safeguarded or to insist.upon tho necessity of the ■ military authorities having prompt recourse to -thepowers -with which they have been invested by Parliament. A falling response of late to the appeal for voluntary recruits has resulted in shortages which have not yet af-, fected the' dispatch of the periodical drafts, but soon would do so if a remedy were not applied. The remedy, happily, is at hand, and its application will result in the substitution of certitude and smooth-working efficiency for the failures' "aiid shortcomings which have begun to appear in the later operation of the voluntary 'system. From the extended account given in our news columns yesterday of the methods under which the ballot will be conducted, the Government Statistician (Me. Fkaser) and his assistants seem to have done their work well.

The machinery of the ballot as it-is described has'been mads as far as possible simple, and ample precautions appear to have been taken against. anv_ departure from, or. interference with, its fair and impartial operation. ■ This is a matter upon which too much em : phasis cannot be laid. Public confidence in the ballot as in every respect impartial and effective is the first essential to the unimpeded ■and successful operation of the system about to be introduced. Thcso stipulations seem to bo fully met in the methods, and procedure laid clown. Confidence is warranted in the first placc because the simple but effective methods devised will practically exclude any possibility of error, and equally for the reason that the responsible work of the ballot will be done by the Government Statistician and a Magistral, public officials above suspicion. Some assistance may bo necessary in dealing with details and as a still further precaution it has been providod_ that if such assistance is utilised it shall be rendered by women. Nothing seems to have been left undone to establish the ballot on a basis which will entitle it to universal confidence. This*being assured, the introduction of comi pulsion should be generally approv-

Ed by every patriotic New Zealander. We have reached a- stage in the war when ifc is above all things ncccssary that there should be no slackening in the efforts which the war demands. The outlook is good, it has never been better, but there is not the slightest warrant for assuming that victory is only a matter of. time: Victory or defeat depends as absolutely now as in the first clays of the war upon the efforts that are put forth by the nations engaged. New Zealand's part is a comparatively small one, hut we partake in the privileges and obligations of the. ' Empire, and could not slacken in rneeting the demands of the wa.'r " without sacrificing self-respect and much else besides. An unrelenting and determined effort is called for in what may prove to. be the closing stages of the world war ; and these demands cannot be better met than by the im : partial and orderly system in which the selection by ballot is a central feature, ■ - • ■