FIRST BALLOT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 4

FIRST BALLOT

SELECTION OF RESERVISTS START NEXT TUESDAY OTAGO’S QUOTA 900 MEN (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. “ The drawing of the ballot to select recruits for the territorial forces will commence next Tuesday, September 24,” said the Minister of National Service, Mr R. Semple, in a statement to-day. 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, the Minister added would be made up of district quotas as follows: — Auckland .. • • • ■ • • 2000 Paeroa 1250 Whangarei 1450 Hamilton .. .. .. • • 2000 Wellington 1900 Wanganui 750 Napier , 1000 New Plymouth .. .. 1000 Nelson ' 750 Christchurch .. .. .. 1900 Dunedin 900 Invercargill 1000 Procedure to be Adopted “The procedure to be followed,” Mr Semple said, “while simple and practical, has been the 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 the 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 SUU each in alphabetical order. Two ballot boxes would be used, the first to determine the order in which the trays would be placed on the tables, and the second to decide the cards which would be drawn from the trays. Prior to the putting of the marbles in the ballot boxes they would be exhibited in the trays so that the magistrate and other officials might assure themselves that no number had been omitted. Ihe ballot for the position of the trays having been carried out, and the marbles for the cards, which would be numbered from 1 to 500, put into the second ballot box. the box would be revolved, and one marble withdrawn. Publication of Names If for the sake of illustration, Mr Semple said, 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 the 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 After six marbles had been withdrawn from the ballot box, responsible officers would pass down the rows of trays, and after satisfying themselves that the correct cards had been turned up.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, and individual notices to the reservists concerned would be despatched by regis. tered post. The Gazette, which was estimated to contain more than 100 pages, would be 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 the newspapers would publish 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, he said that 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.