MILITARY SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 11 April 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE.

THE BALLOT. 4812 NAMES TO BE DRAWN. WELLINGTON, April 11. The national shortage for the Thirtieth Reinforcements, for which . voluntary enlistment closed on Thursday last, is 1203. The ballot commenced this afternoon to make up the deficiency. Four names are being drawn to make up every one of the deficiency, instead of only a proportion of three to one, as previously. The reason for the increased proportion is to make up for the tightening of the medical standard. Thus 4812 names are nowbeing drawn. Bay of Plenty is the only district that escapes th e ballot, having made up its quota voluntarily. KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE. MEN MUST BE SENT.

FOODSTUFFS IN SECOND PLACE

WELLINGTON, April 10,

"Speaking after very deliberate consideration and on information received, I want to say with regard to the national efficiency question,'' stated Sir James Allen, Acting-Prinme Minister, to-day, "that the most urgent claim upon New Zealand at the present time is to keep up the number of men for the various reinfoiicements. It must be evident to every thinking man that it is to the advantage of the Mother Country and her allies to exert as much pressure as they can during this summer in order to bring the war. to a climax this summer if possible. I use the word climax advisedly. From the point of view of ourselves and our allies it is the most oconomical thing, with regard to men, money, food supplies, and everything, to finish the war this summer if at all possible. If we have to hang over another winter it will mean a heavien cost in money and men, and everything else, so we must not slacken in our efforts. Next to the demand for men to keep up our reinforcements^—and we are not asking for more men than our usual drafts—come foodstuffs. It is our duty to keep our produce up as far as. ,we are able, and from: the. point of. view of those engaged in these industries, it is as well that we should iin-ish, the war this year if we can.''

With regard to shipping space: for products, Sir. James, said: "We have not much control over the shipping question in New Zealand. We are urging the Home authorities to supply as much shipping as they possibly can to get our products away, but it may be that we shall bo more short of shipping during the year, partly owing to the submarine menace and partly to the fact that the Imperial Government may find it necessary to find food supplies from nearer their own shores. They have already done that in the case of two ships."