GOING INTO CAMP.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1918, Page 1

GOING INTO CAMP.

EAR IJIvK TU'AN THEY EXPECTED. POSITION OF SECOND DIVISION MEN. A deal of misconception lias arisen among Second Division Reservists regarding the order in'which they <r() into camp. It has liocn thought b.\ many that they are only required to mobilise in the order of ballot in which they were drawn, but Saturday’s Wellington “Post” states that it is officially explained that though the Defence Department desires to give, full effect to this principle, it cannot in practice he carried out. The only undertaking indeed, that has boon given is that each Second Division Reservist will he given three month’s clear notice, after date of medical examination, in which to proceed to camp. This arrangement is being fully observed, and will coni pine to he so in the future.

The position has been accentuated somewhat in regard to Class A, Second Division men (married men without children). Owing to the reduetipn in the reinforcement draft and a consequent surplus of First Division men becoming available, it was found necessary to postpone the date of the mobilisation of the first draft of the Second Division until the end of May. This draft, which will concentrate at Trentham during the period May 28th to June Ist, wd 1 he known ns the 42nd Reinforcements. All Second Division men ordered to concentrate before that date have accordingly received notice to parade to go into camp with The 4.2nd draft. As the men so notified include a considerable number who were drawn in the 2nd and 3rd.ballots of Class A and Second Division, a certain amount of concern has been caused among those affec tod. They, not unnaturally, considered that they would he postponed until the •3rd or 44th Reinforcements, or in the order in which they were drawn, and have therefore been asking why it is that they are required to go into camp with those drawn in the first ballot of their class. The-authorities explain that- until a draft .is full the practice is to post every man who becomes available on medical examination to the particular draft in question, irrespective of the number of the ballot ia which he was drawn—that is provided the Department in the ease of Second Division men is able To give three months clear notice after the date of medical examination. In the case of Class A men it has happened .owing to the postponement of the date in which the first draft of the class is required to go into camp, that ’

drawn in the 2nd and 3rd ballots have become available for posting to that particular draft—the 42nd Reinforcements. This has been brought about bv reason of the fact that men drawn in the earlier ballot or ballots had not previously been disposed of owing to the lodging' of appeals, and failure to attend for medical examination through sickness, etc. In this respect, however, second Division reservists have been placed in no worse position than those of the First Division. The same procedure through force of circumstances has been adopted with the First Division men all along; they have not complained, and it is not expected that Second Division men knowing the position, will complain either.

'Hie 42nd draft mobilising at the end lof May was filled ten days ago, and men now passed as fit are being posted to the 43rd Reinforcements going into camp a month later. It is announced that if it is found in a few week’s time a surplus is created for the 4.2nd Reinforcements owing to a larger number of First Division men becoming available that is at present anticipated—the position is regulated by the number of fits obtained from Cl camp and the extent of 'medical rejections in Trentham and Featlierston —it may be neces sarv to make a cut in th.y£o notified to concentrate for the 42nd draft. If that becomes necessary, first preference will be given to those drawn in the third ballot, and next preference to those drawn in the second. As far as men classed Cl are concerned, the position is somewhat different. This is regulated by the circumstance that there is no limit to the strength of Cl draft. The result is that men classed Cl are posted to the next 01 draft going into camp. This however/ is subject to the provisa that no man is sent into camp before the first draft of his particular class in the Expeditionary Force Reserve, and, in the case of Second Division men also that each man receives three month*clear notice from the date of his medical examination. Thus, 'With Second Division men, no Class A man, whether passed as Fit A or. Cl, is required to concentrate, before the first draft of his class. Though drawn in the latter ballots, they may, however, he required to parade with the first drafts of their class. The same will apply lo B Class men and to later classes.