THE BALLOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1916, Page 7

THE BALLOT.

SENT TO CAMP NEXT MONTH.- 1 |J

PROTECTION AGAINST LIABILITIES

(l'l'Oin Our Own Correspondent]. Wellington, November -21. Tlio scrutiny in connection with the ballot taken last week under the Military Service Act may be completed in time for the publication of the list of compulsory recruits on Thursday, The task is complicated bv the failure of some members of the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve to complete their forms in a clear manner. The roll on which the ballot was taken consists of the original forms, as slipplied to the Government Statistician by the reservists themselves, and it is possible that the addTesse9 supplied by some of the men will be found to be, insufficient. The scrutiny is being eonducted by the Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser) and thp presiding Magistrate (Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M.)

When the list of recruits is published in the Gazette this week, the odicial notices will be sent by registered post to the addresses supplied by the men on their legistration card-s. If the address proves insufficient and the postal authorities are unable to deliver the notice, which will be preceded >by a telegram, the reservist qpneerned will not thereby be 'relieved from liability. The publication of the name in the Gazette constitutes a legal notice, and the lists will be shown in post offices throughout the Dominion for general information. It will be the diuty of members of the First Division to ascertain whether or not they are summoned for service in consequence of the ballot. Some reservists, when filling up their registration forms, gave the names of post offices as their addresses. These men should call at the post offices in order to ascertain if notices have been sent them.

None of the men selected by ballot last week will be required to enter camp before the date of mobilisation of the 24th Reinforcements, in the week December 11-10. If the list of recruits is gazetted on Thursday, the men will have a period of ten days within which to send notices of appeal to the commandant of the Defence Forces. The period will close on November £, and after- that the men who have not appealed and who are found by the Medical Boards to be fit for service, will be allowed 1 some time to arrange their •liivate affairs. The Department will endeavor to allow fourteen days for 'lis mirpose, but 110 liard-aml-fast rule nTI \.r laid down. The hearing of appeals "'lay begin before the close of the ten days, but if the number is large tlio work may not be completed for somo weeks. The Military Service Hoards, indeed, are likely to be occupied continuously for some time to come. There is one Board for each of the four military districts at the present time, but tile number may require to be increased later, if the pressure of work proves too great. "What will happen to the civil liabilities of a man who is enlisted compuisorilyV' asks a reservist. "Apparently _a man may be involved in serious financial loss, o r even bankruptcy, owing to being required to leave his business and enter camp." This point lias received the consideration of the authorities already, and it is understood that some protection will be provided in eases of the kind described. The regulations in force in the United Kingdom, frameil upon the recommendations of a special committee of enquiry, protect the interests of the conscript in regard to insurance, mortgages and some other liabilities. Any reservist summoned for service in New Zealand will be entitled to appeal for exemption on the score of undue hardship."