REINFORCEMENTS SHORTAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1917, Page 3

REINFORCEMENTS SHORTAGES.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT BY MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, February a. Recruiting for the 27th and 2St'h Reinforcements closed on Saturday, and a fallot is now proceeding to make good the shortage?. The total number of voluntary enlistments for the -27 th draft was 1251, and for the 28th draft 70(1, leaving respective shortages of !)22 and 1367 for the two reinforcements. The total number required to be ballottcd for, in order to allow the usual margin ■for exemption ana medical unfitness, is ('■BH7. It is expected that the fiazctta containing the list's of reservists on whom the lot has fallen, will be published at the beginning of next week, and, as announced previously, the medical examination of all men so called up for service will be commenced forthwith. I wish the men who are passed as unfit for active service to clearly understand that there is no need for them to appeal, ov, if they have already sent in an appeal, that there is no need for them to pursue the appeal... They should at once withdraw their appeal,' and thus save their own time as well as that of the Military Service Boards. A man who has passed as unfit will be transferal to the home section of the Expeditionary Force, and will be given indefinite leave without pay, which means that he will be in a position to continue his ordinary civil life. If at any time men are wanted for Home service a call will be made for volunteers from those who have passed as'unfit. I think this explanation is necessary, as many men seem to he under the impression that, though unfit for nctive service, their transfer to home service means that they are to be held by the Defence authorities for service in New Zealand. That is not the intention at present, because it is anticipated that all the unfit men who are wanted for service, etc., in the camps and forts and defence service in the Dominion will be readily obtainable by voluntary enlistments. If at any time it should become neebssary to compulsorily call ip the men 'who are now passed as unfit, in order to use them for home service in the Dominion, the same right of appeal will be extended to them as is now given to the men who are passed as fit for active service with the Expeditionary Force. I also wish to repeat that the decision to ballot for the shortages in the two reinforcements this month is solely due to the fact that mor.' time is required, between the date of tiie ballot and th*e time when (he men are due in camp to commence training, in which to medically examine the men and hear a-fjpeals, etc. At the present time only one month has been allowed for these things, Ll;t the alteration now nude two months .'■will be awrilable.