THE SECOND DIVISION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 10

THE SECOND DIVISION

FIRST BALLOT FIXED FOR OCTOBER 29th.

Tho taking of the first ballot among members of tho Second Division of tho Expeditionary Force Reserve for the purpose of filling vacancies in the Reinforcement drafts has been definitely fixed for October 29th. This will ho taken from Class A (married men without children), and the “Gazette eo n ~ taining the names drawn will be issued about November 6th. As the result of inquiries made by the Government Statistician regarding doubtful cases of tho status of Reservists originally placed in Class A, the number of men now ascertained to bo in that category is 15,292. In addition, since the last ballot was taken, there have been accretions of 1274 men from tho First Division through men coming of ago, etc. These latter will not be balloted for, and will be called up in the “Gazette” en bloc. The ballot thus will ho taken from the 15,292 men in Glass A to make- Up shortages. It is estimated that, with further accretions of First Division men during the next two months, _ the men in Class A will provide sufficient for three ballots. The first ballot for Class B (men with ono child) should thus take place towards the close of January. Tlie Minister for Defence has already announced that the first draft of Class A men will probably mobilise in March next.