THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2956, 20 December 1916, Page 5

THE BALLOT

• PERIOD. OF. GRACE EXPIRING. Soma of the reservists selected for service at the first ballot failed to report themselves, as directed, for medical examination.; Sixty-three men' failed to appear in Group 6 (Wellington City and Suburbs), and tliey were instructed to present .thomßelves at the Buokle Street.Barracks at 10.a.m., on Thursday, December 21. The period of grace will expire to-morrow, and the reservists.whoare still unaocounted for will be treated es deserters under military law.

It has been stated that ballotted reservists who have failed to present themselves to the authorities will be "prosecuted.". This is not the case; There will be no proceedings in the civil Courts. The men selects for service are soldiers already, under . military law, and their disregard of the order to attend for medical examination' or any other purpose gives them the. status of deserters.. They will 1 be arrested without further ceremony after the period of grace has expired, and will then be_ handed over to the military authorities for training or for such preliminary punishment as may be deemed necessary. Disregard of military orders by a member of the Expeditionary Force Reserve is not a civil offence, but a military one.