THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1918, Page 2

THE SECOND DIVISION.

HARDSHIPS TO BE AVOIDED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Jan. 15. A deputation of th<; .Sesov.d Division interviewed Mr. Msssey asking for a guarantee that any men sent to camp should be medically fit. It waa pointed out that it is a <p.»at. hardship for a reservist to dispose ci his business perhaps, and wheii he goa to camp to be turned down as um'i.i. Mr. Massey said he could say at onee that he would be very glad to lay the request before Cabinet. It was the desire of the .Government that every possible care shcrtlld bo taken to avoid hardships to reservists, and such care had been and woi'ld be taken. FORTHCOMING BALLOTS (Our Special Correspondent). Wellington, Jan. 13. The Gazette calling up the remaining members of Class A of the Second Division is to be issued on Tuesday, It will contain also the names of some 000 First Division men who have become available. The supply of First Division reservists is maintained by the arrival of young men at their twentieth year, when they pass automatically into the reserve and are called up for medical examination at the first ballot thereafter. The next call will be on the men of Class B (one child). When the call will be made is uncertain, but it is generally understood in Defence circles that there will be a substarftial interval. Probably an official statement will be made on the subject shortly. The February and Marcix reinforcement drafts are full, and the April draft is nearly full Most of the Class A men will 1 be taken into camp after the beginning of May. and it is considered certain that with accretions from the First Division they will provide at least three reinforcements. Then there is a steady stream of men from the CI camp into the A training camps. The Defence authorities indicated some time ago that at least one more reinforcement would 1 be dropped on account of the breaking,up of the Fourth Brigade at the front and the use of its officers and men to reinforce the New Zealand Division. ■Some of the factors .in the calculation sre a bit indefinite, but it seems fairly clear that none of the Class B men wiil oe taken into camp before September or October Tliev might not be wanted at all if tfir'-British, French and Americans had a good year on the West front in 1918—but discussion of that point j trenches on the role of the prophets.