THE NEXT BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 8

THE NEXT BALLOT

LARGE DRAWING NEXT WEEK. Voluntary rccruiting-ibr the Twentyseventh and Twenty-eiglith Reinforcements will close this evening, and a ballot will be taken next week for.the. purpose of proviclmg men to cover the shortages. This ballot js being made to cover two of the monthly drafts in order that future ballots may be taken evory two months, instead of one month, in advance of the date of mobilisation. The number of voluntary recruits available for the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Reinforcements has not been stated officially, but the total shortage will not bo less than 2500, and this will necessitate the drawing of nearly 8000 names at the ballot.

The fourth ballot will bring the total number of names drawn from the-roll of. the , First Division up to about 18,600. The Division was.stated originally to contain nearly, 86,000 men, ,but'_ this number..^included-.-some- men who have sincor.entisted--voluntarily, as 'well as'all £he7men r in exempted, 'trades, ,such.'■a's.>ininefs)!lslaughter'.nien,''shearers,:'and .seamen...'..'On ' the other hand it has to. bo. remembered that names have' been. dra,wn freely in the early stages of. the scheme owing to the necessity for.making allowance for. those men who. would not be able to respond immediately, to.the calls. Many hundreds ..of men have been granted brief periods of exemption for the settlement of their .private affairs, and they will become ' available for later Reinforcements. ' The supply of men remaining in the First Division appears to be sufficient for from-six to eight months at least. .. The rate of voluntary recruiting is showing some improvement in many other-parts of the country, as well as in Wellington. Apparently many members of the First Division, realising that their turn is approaching rapidly in any case owing. to the.operation of the ballot, 'prefer to enter camp as volunteers. The following additional voluntary recruit's have: been attested at the Town Hall recruiting office:— r J. D. Smith, parson, Waipawa. . F.. J. Ashley, -instructor, City. . ; H. B. Glanville, blacksmith, City. F. Hayes, slaughtermen,. City. .. W. R.,Miller, clerk, -City. v . .R, M. Rickard, clerk,;., City, .. .W.-.A. .Reidi shearer, .Petone. . H. Rodgerson, butcher,-Petone.