COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1660, 11 January 1917, Page 2

COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE.

THE Hon. .las. Allen, Acting -Prime Minister, inlerviewed at Dunedin on Tuesday in respect to (he military ballots, said; It was almost certain there would be a shortage as the result of the first ballots, it was estimated that after the first two ballots there would be 74,00(1 men in the First Division, and allowing (17 per cent, for the estimation of unfits and essential workers, it is reckoned that this number will suffice for seven months' supply. Two additional Medical Boards had been appointed for Auckland and Nelson, and wherever necessary this policy would be extended. Regarding the question of medical examination preceding appeals, the Minister said the subject will be given careful consideration. Home service is a matter not yet fully defined. It was intended meanwhile that the staff on cleric:)! work in camps, base records, pay branches, etc., should be deemed home service, in order to release men for active service. Tho first object of home service work is to utilise it for volunteers who are medically unfit. These men would be encouraged to come forward. Regarding national organisation, the Minister said he had prepared a definite comprehensive scheme, which would be submitted to Cabinet as soon as practicable.