CALLED TO ARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1918, Page 5

CALLED TO ARMS.

HIGHS-PLACED CIVILIANS. WELLINGTON'S INTERESTING LDST. "****" With each succeeding ballot pTominent men in the public service and business life are called for their country's service, but there ha g never been a list so interesting from this viewpoint as that of the first Class C ballot. It seems to have gathered in a very ohoice collection of administrative talent rem the Wellington area. Incidentally it will raise the question of essential public servants, so acutely that the Government; will be obliged to decide whether it will submit to the same inconvenience as the commercial world, and do Without Some of its leading administrators. Departmental heads, as a rule, only reach the top of the tree after they have passed the age for military service. They exercise a general control of their department, and they are always careful about securing, for their right-hand helper, someone who in actual practice takes a great deal of executive work and; responsibility off their shoulders, especially in the larger departments. It is in the latter category that the ballot has been busy. This week's list includes Mr. Paul Verschagelt, the Public Service Commissioners' chief clerk. Th* Public Works Department also risks los> ing its chief outdoor educative head, Mr. F. W. I"urkett, chief inspecting engineer, and the Education Department figures prominently in the ballot with its chief clerk, Mr. A- J. E. Benge. One of the Public Trustees, Mr. J- W. McDonald, is CSlled up, and outside the public service there are some interesting selections. For instance, Mr. Rupert A. Armstrong, the redoubtable president of the Second Division League, has "drawn a marble," Mr. Frank W. Miller, secretary of the Public Service 'Asaoc-iatkn l Mr- H. D. Wickery, secretary of the W-': lington Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Barnard F. Page, the city organist, are in the list. Tf Mr. Page appeals, the Military Service Board will have the delicate task of deciding a question which has greatly exercised newspaper correspondents lately, whether the <tity organist can claim to belong to an "essential industry" as a musical educator!