BALLOT FOR RECRUITS

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 8

BALLOT FOR RECRUITS

DRAWING COMMENCES TUESDAY 16,000 RESERVISTS TO BE SELECTED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON. September 19. “ Tho drawing of the ballot to select recruits for tho Territorial Forces will commence next Tuesday, _ September 24,” said the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, in a statement today. He added that the total number of reservists to be selected for service would be 16,000, and it was estimated that the work could not be completed before the end of the week. The total of 16.000 would be made up of district quotas as follows : Auckland, 2,000. Pnoroa, 1,350. Whangarei, 1,450. Hamilton, 2,000. Wellington, 1.900. Wanganui, 750. Napier, 1,000. New Plymouth, 1,000. Nelson, 750. Christchurch. 1,900. Dunedin, 900. Invercargill, 1,000. BALLOT PROCEDURE.

“The procedure to be followed,” said Mr Semple, “ while simple and practical, has been tho subject of a great deal of thought and careful planning to ensure the absolute fairness of the proceedings, which will be under the supervision of a Stipendiary Magistrate, and in tho presence of a representative of the Police Department.” The Minister explained that every First Division Reservist was represented in the register by a typewritten card containing his full name, address, age, and occupation, and registration number, besides other particulars. These cards were arranged in trays of 500 each in alphabetical order. Two ballot boxes would be used, tho first to determine the order in which the trays would bo placed on the and the second to decide tho cards which would be drawn from the trays. Prior to the putting of the marbles 'in the ballot boxes they would, bo exhibited in tho trays so that the magistrate and other officials might assure themselves that no number had been omitted. The ballot for the position of the trays having been carried out, and the marbles for the cards, which would be numbered from one to 500, put into the second ballot box, tho box would be revolved, and one marble withdrawn. If, for the sake of illustration, said Mr Semple, this should be number 253, it would be chalked up on a blackboard. Then the attendants would select the appropriate card, without, however, withdrawing it so that its identity could be determined even from tho front of the tray. After six marbles had been withdrawn from the ballot box, responsible officers would pass down the rows of trays, and after satisfying themselves that the correct cards had been turned up, they would wholly withdraw them, replacing each one with a blank card. When it appeared that the quota for a certain district had been filled, a careful count would be made of the cards removed from the trays, and, this being found correct, the registration numbers and names of reservists drawn would be recorded by means of a dictaphone. Lists of names and addresses of the men called up would then be prepared for publication in the ‘ Gazette,’ nll d individual notices to the reservists concerned would be despatched by registered post. Tho ‘ Gazette,’ which was estimated to contain more than 100 pages, would bo published on the Wednesday following the taking of the ballot, and copies would be available for inspection by the public at Post Offices throughout the Dominion, while tho newspapers would jriblish lists for the districts in which they circulated.

Mr Semple again stressed the necessity for reservists notifying changes of address, and, with regard to appeals, said reservists drawn in the ballot and wishing to appeal, must do so within 10 days of the ‘ Gazette ’ notice—that was not later than October 12. Appeals against Territorial service must be sent to the Secretary of the Manpower Committee for the district in which the appellant resided.