The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1916. THE FIRST BALLOT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 100, 24 November 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1916. THE FIRST BALLOT.

The very complete precautions taken to ensure accuracy and an even chance to all eligihles has made the drawing of the first ballot under the Military Service Act a slow and tedious business, and it was not until last Saturday morning that the work commenced on Thursday was completed. The names of 4000 reservists on the first call have been drawn to fill some thirteen hundred vacancies which voluntary enlistment has failed to fill. These shortages are in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Reinforcements. It is not thought that the number ballottcd and now Gazetted will be in excess of requirements, because there will be many rejects by the medical examiners and a fair percentage of, the men may he granted exemption from, at anyrate, immediate military service, if reasonable cause for such exemption is shown. Recently given figures show that there are about 80.000 men in the first reserve: but of these 30,000, or nearly that number, are rejected volunteers who may be expected to again fail to pass the doctors. This will reduce the four thousand now called upon by one-third, and it is estimated it will be reduced by another one-third through the removal of further unfits, and the withdrawal of men entitled to exemption. It is understood, however, that .if there should be a surplus over the actual requirements it Will form a reserve for making up shortages in coming re-, inforcemeuts, the old reserve which | served this purpose being to all intents and purposes <>%hausted. Aj message from Wellington this morn-, ing states that copies of the Gazette containing the names of the four] thousand men who are called have been sent to all Tost' Offices and, probably will be available to-morrow, i It should be understood by the men concerned that the period of ten days allowed for the forwarding of appeals dates from the publication of the "Gazette." j