SHORT NOTICE TO BALLOTED MEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3095, 28 May 1917, Page 4

SHORT NOTICE TO BALLOTED MEN

The protest put forward by the. Trades and Labour Council against the departure of the military authorities from the understanding that balloted men.would have two months in which to adjust their affairs before being sent into camp is one of some importance to all men remaining in the Military Reserve. It must be recognised, of course, that the situation regarding iho training and dispatch tif recent reinforcement drafts has been complicated by causes over which theDefence. Department has had no control. A temporary shortage has arisen owing to exemptions by the Military Service Boards, to an exceptionally large number of medical rejections and to other causes, and in order to ensure that the gaps shall be filled as soon as possible balloted men have been called up earlier than was expected. It is not.quite clear that it was intended to lay down a goneral rule that two months' grace should be allowed all men called up in the ballot, but the impression has grown up that such was to be the case, and the men in many instances have made their plans accordingly. They are in consequence placed at,a serious disadvantgc, and in some instances may be put to much inconvenience, and perhaps financial loss, by' being called on to enter camp three or four weeks after their names have been drawn in the ballot. While every sympathy must be felt with the mili-tary-authorities in their endeavour to ensure that all shortages shall be made up as speedily as possible, and that the fullest possible period of training shall be given the. reinforcement drafts before' their dispatch overseas, it is most desirable that the men called up by ballot should be given a reasonable time to adjust their affairs before entering camp. If the present number drawn in each ballot is not sufficient to allow each set of. balloted meu to receive the two rfionths' grace expected, then it would seem to bo desirable to increase the number drawn. It is generally understood that th'o shortage which has existed for some little time past will be gradually extinguished during the next few, months owing to the larger ballots and to the expiry of the period of exemption granted by the Military Service Boards in individual cases. This should relievo the situation; and enable the military authorities to place the balloted men on a better footing in the matter complained of.