THE SECOND DIVISION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1759, 13 September 1917, Page 3

THE SECOND DIVISION.

DATE OP FIRST BALLOT,

LAST WEEK IN OCTOBER

All important statement regarding the classification of the Second Division and the probable date of the holding of the first ballot was made by Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, on Monday evening. Sir James stated that he had hoped that the classification would be finished in time for the first ballot of the Second Division to bo held in the second week in October, but it now appeared that it probably could not be held till the last week in that month. The roll, added the Minister, would be printed as a Now Zealand roll, not in distinct groups, as the numbers in the classes were too small to make it worth while. The first class would be finished in two ballots. In the Amendment Bill to be brought down shortly, power would be taken to call up the balance of a class cn bloc; and that also would be done in the case of the 7,(100 odd men, just sufficient for one draft, remaining in (he First Division. Some 01 “C2” —home service —men had been examined in Auckland, said Sir James, and of these 15 passed Class A. and 18 Cl. The fifteen will go into camp after the usual interval, and the Cl men will be drafted into camp for special training. He was carefully considering the pensions and allowances for (he Second Division men and their dependents, and hoped to be able to put his proposals before Cabinet this week-end and to bring down the Bill next week. The allowances,, of course, bad to be considered along with the pensions, but only (he latter would require fresh legislation. ALL LN T ONE ROLL. DIVISION INTO CLASSES. The roll of Second Division Reservists'is now being set up from the Reservists’ cards at the Government Printing Office, and as these are disposed of classification of the Division into classes will be proceeded with. The whole of the names will be printed in one Dominion roll (not district rolls, as was the case with the First Division), and will bo given in alphabetical order. The class to which each Second Division Reservist belongs will be indicated by (he letters “A/' “D,” “C,” ‘T),’’ “fi,” “E,” denoting no children, one child, etc., as (live case may be. It is expected that the first class, men with no children, will be sufficient for two ballots, if not three. FIRST DIVISION RESERVISTS. 7,(175 STILL LEFT. A return prepared by (he Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Eraser) shows that at the conclusion of the tenth ballot: on 31 si: August there were still 7,(175 men left in the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve. The number remaining in each of the recruiting districts on that date was as follows: — Recruiting No. of First No. District. Division Left. 1 Auckland 1,250 2 llauvaki 103 3 North Auckland 223 4 Waikato 3.30 5 Wellington City 007 (! Manawatu 315 7 Hawke’s Bay 348 8 Taranaki 303 0 Christchurch 410 10 South Canterbury 273 11 North Canterbury 140 12 Nelson ’ 24.1 13 Dunedin 533 14 Southland 400 15 North Otago 118 10 Chit ha 12-1 17 Bay of Plenty 175 IS Wairarapa 274 19 Poverty Bay 242 20 Wanganui 209 31 West Coast 453 Total 7,075 Under (he Military Service Act as it at present stands, those men will require to be called up by ballot. Il is expected, however, that this will be obviated by passing an amending Bill through Parliament, enabling 1 lie Government Statistician to dispense with this formality and to call up the whole of the men remaining.