SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION

sFIRST BALLOT NEXT MONTH MEN'TO ENTER CAMP IN JANUARY ' 'A. statement about the calling up of the Second Division was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Defence (Sir James Allon). Tho Matter-waa raised by a question from Mr. D. Buick, who pointed out that itrwas important that Second Division men, many of whom had business responsibilities, should know as soon aa possible when they wero likely to bo called up. '.Sir James Allen, said it was difficult to give definite information as to when the Second Division woulji bo culled up, but as far as he could judge they certainly •would not be called into camp before December, and ho hoped not before January. Ho was crying to devise • a eohemo. whereby the medical examination of the Second Division would take glace earlier than was the case with tho First Division, but (there were technical difficulties, which .it was hoped would Tμ overcome. Hot hoped to take the ballot for tho Second Division: men a month earlier than, otherwise would be the case, in order ithat the men might get an extra month' between the ballot land going into camp. ,-Thq aim with .respect .to. the First Division was to allow two month's between ballot and going into camp, but the Department had not always been able to carry that out, becauso of shortages in camp and other matters. By the arrangements .that had now been made he hoped to make up nil shortages and provide for all requirements up to December, from the remaining men of the First Division and. . the combing out of the C 2 men,' so that it would not be .before January that the first draft of the Second Division men would be called on to. come to camp. . The first ballot in the Second Division should" take- place in. October in order to allow three months after the ballot before the men were called up. If ar-1 Tangements, as indicated, could be made it was expected that an assurance could be given that no Second Division man would bo called up until three month 3 Tiad elapsed after he was balloted for.

: THE FIRST DIVISION CALLING THE REMAINING IWEN. About 7000 names remain on the roll of the First Division at tho present time. It is understood that these men will be called up en Woe. The power to take this course is not given the Defence Department by the existing legislation, but an amendment will be made by the Expeditionary Force Bill to be introduced during the present session. It is likely that the power will be taken to call up a class of the Second Division, en bloo. The ballot will be applied to the Second Division whenever a class is too large for one draft. But if half the class is called up in. one month, it would be unnecessary to take the ballot when the remaining half was leauired in the followins month.