SECOND DIVISION VOLUNTEERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 101, 22 January 1918, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION VOLUNTEERS

Sir,—About a couple of weeks ago you stated through the columns of your valuablo paper that any Second Division reservist who had previously enlisted and had been declared unfit would not be drawn in the ballot, but, would simply be called up for medical re-examination after all the men m his class had been balloted for. To test the correctness or otherwise of vour information, I wrote to the Government Statistician, who informs me that although I have previously been rejected as a volunteer I will be called in the ballot in the usual way, and that if I will give him official evidence of my having enlisted the fact will be endorsed against my name in the register. This being so, it looks as though your, information is incorrect. . Please explain.—l am, etc., VOLUNTEER.

[The statement of The Dominion that "reservists who volunteered and were given leave without pay after being olassed unfit avoided the ballot" was correct. Under tho old recruiting system rejected volunteers fell back into the reserve, and so were liable to bo called up in the ballot. These men may have thoir names starred by making application to the Government Statistician. Under the nesent recruiting system rejected volunteers remain soldiers, and are given leave without pay. They will not bo called up in tho ballot, but aro liable to be summoned for re-examination.]