WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

SHORTAGES FOR REINFORCEMENTS' " (From Oud Own Correspondent). , Wellington, January 17. The extent of" the shortage in the 24tt| ' .iji<l. 25th Reinforcements, mobilised dur< • ing the present month, -has not been slated officially, but the matter has been. receiving the attention of the Defence. authorities, and one result' is the an- ■ ncuncement made'to-day that four additional Mil'tary Service. Boards are to he erented at once, while two more Medical Service Boards are to be brought into ovistonco. The balloted mefl are not getting into camp nearly as faßt as they are required and the Minister for Defence is determined to expediate the process. The new bonrds iviM prevent delay in the hearing of appeals and will relievo the congestion that has taken place already. When the appointments are made there will be four Military fin-vice Boards for ea-'.i Island. The Minister inny he able to reduce the mttnbcr when the system is in full working, order. The shortages that are reported are) diTo to the fact that ballotted men can< not be got into camp four weeks after the drawing of the ballot. The Govern-* lr.ent has promised to allow each mart at least a fortnight for the settlement of. ._ hi.» personal affair.', and the other fort* Jiifjht does not give time for the nd-i nniiistration. work that the Defence oN fit era must undertake. It is for th'rf reason that tlie Defence Minister ha* decided to take the ballot eight weeks, instead of four'weeks, in advance of tho dp to fi\od for mobilisation. Tlie change will involve tlie taking af a double ballot shortly, men being drawn for tlioi 27th and 28th Reinforcements at th*; same time. Then the date for the ballots for subsequent reinforcements wKt' be advanced by four weeks in order to establish Ihe new arrangement. Tho Defence authorities have still problems to face. An indefinite number of bnllotted men are neglecting .or evert defying tlie call to service and up to thei present time they have b?en able to do this with impunity. The Defence Mliw islor has recently appealed to these moni.. to do their duty without beinj, forced ■ into it, but this invitation, though no* without response, does not clear tlii ground.