THE CALL FOR MEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2928, 14 November 1916, Page 8

THE CALL FOR MEN

CLOSING VOLUNTARY RECRUITING EXTENT OF THE SHORTAGES The Government Statistician has now certified to the Minister of Defence that the register of tlio First Division of the Reserve for each recruiting district . has been constituted, and that the total number of reservists in Division! is 84,986. In accordance with the spirit of the Military Service Act, whenever any doubt arose as to whether a man belonged to the reserve or not, the Government Statistician enrolled him. Similarly, where the advise from the defence Department of men joining the Expeditionary Force 3ias led to some doubt as to the identity of the man, his card has been retained in the register. But to guard against names of n»en who have already enlisted being published in the Gazette, ft is intended to submit each certified list of men called up by ballot to Base Records, in order that the name of any man who is now in the Force may he cancelled. The following schedule shows tho number of Reservists in the First Division for each recruiting district:—

Recruiting District. No. No. 1. Auckland 11,015 No. 2. Hauraki 2,225 No. 3. North Auckland 2,898 No. 4. Waikato 3,966 No. 5. Wellington 8,462 No. 6. Manawatu 4,084 No. 7. Hawko's Bay 3,050 No. 8. Taranaki 4,025 No. 9. Christ/church 6,573 No. 10. South Canterbury 4.345 No. 11. North Canterbury 2,556 No. 12. Nelson 2,794 No. 13. Dunedin 5,397 No. 14. Southland 5,174 No. 15. North Otago 2,174 No. 16. Clutha 2,021 No. 17. Bay of Plenty 1,453 No. 18. Wairarapa 3,508 No. 19! Poverty Bay 2,761 No. 20. Wanganui 2,943 No. 21. "West Coast 3,562 Total •' 84,986 Voluntary recruiting for tho Twentythird and Twenty-fourth Reinforcements closed last night, and the oxtent of the shortage will be known definitely by to-morrow. The total shortage for tho November and December drafts certainly exceeds 1500 men, but the Recruiting Board will decide what number it will be necessary to summon at tho first ballot. Tho machinery. for tho taking of a ballot among tho reservists pf the First Division is now ready, and the required number of men oan oe selected at any time. Tho Recruiting Board will fix a date when the figures showing the extent of the shortage are complete. '

Wellington City. The mobilisation of the 23rd Reinforcements will begin to-day, the first draft to enter camp being that of Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs). Group 5 was asked to supply 206 men for this month's Reinforcement, and tho digures available last night showed that a shortage of about 60 men was to be expected. The group's ..quota for the y 24th Reinforcements is 180,' and against this 158 recruits are available, leaving a shortage' on tho December draft of 22 men. Tho following additional men havo been attested at the Town Hall recruiting office:— ,T. Simpson, butcher, city.. D. H. Cameron, engineer, Khandallah. ' It. M. Jenkin, engineer,-city. P. J. M'Cuskey, salesman, city. P. Deane, seaman, city. . J. Woodhoad, farm hand, city. ' W. H. Barlow, agent, city. D. Poison, clerk, city. . C. M'Grath, stoker, city. G. Rosson, labourer, city. D., W. Lamond, soldier, Fort Dorset. | R. Smith, labourer, city. THE BALLOT. The Hon. J. Allen, Defence. Minister, witnessed a rehearsal or trial run of the ballot yesterday afternoon. Afterwards he stated to a reporter that he was quite satisfied with the method of taking the ballot. It seemed to him that all possible precautions had beon taken to avoid mistakes or unfairness. Mr. Allen said that tho date' of the first ballot had not yet been fixed. Ho thought it would probably be taken on Wednesday .or Thursday jof this week. BRISK 'WORK IN AUCKLAND. Bj Telegraph—Press Association.' - Auckland, November 13. 'Auckland City Group's quota for tho next Reinforcements draft lias been filled, and the city contingent should leave for camp to-morrow at full strength. The twenty-fourth Reinforcement's quota from the city group is also filled. \ CHRISTCHUROH SHORTAGES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Ghrlstchurch, November 13. At 6 o'clock this, evening the shortages in the Twenty-third Reinforcements for Canterbury Military District were: —Christehurch. area 37, South Canterbury 70, North Canterbury 50, West Coast 66. Nelson area showed a. surplus of four. '