ANOTHER DRAW?

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 29241, 11 October 1940, Page 4

ANOTHER DRAW?

BALLOT TOO SMALL AS MANY AGAIN NEEDED APPEALS EXCEED 1000 As the results of the medical examinations of the men called up under the first ballot for compulsory military service with the territorial army are collated, and with the number of appeals against service mounting rapidly each day, it has become apparent that a supplementary ballot probably larger than the first for the No. 4 (Hamilton) military area must be held if the units in this area are to be brought up to war strength. With a shortage of men indicated in other areas also, it does not appear likely that the No. 4 area requirements could be made up from men. transferred from other districts. No official indication has been given that a further ballot will be held. If present plans for the strength of the Waikato Mounted Rifles, the 7th Medium Battery, New Zealand Artillery, and the Ist Battalion of the 16th Waikato Regiment are to be continued, however, there does not appear to be any alternative. Furthermore, it has been suggested that additional companies for the existing units in the No. 4 area will shortly be formed. For that a large ballot would be required. Many Appeals

Although the medical standard of the balloted men examined in the Hamilton area has been below expectations, it is considerably better than in most other areas m New Zealand. At Taumarunui yesterday a 91.5 per cent fit pass was probably the best so far recorded in the Dominion. However, while the Hamilton area has a slightly better medical record than most, the district will most likely have the highest number of appeals i*n New Zealand. The necessity for a supplementary ballot is indicated by figures. In the ballot 2000 men were drawn. An examination of the occupations of these men would indicate that about 1000 must be classed as engaged in important occupations and therefore ineligible for service. To date, appeals in the area have numbered more than 1000, being mostly on account of men in important industries. Already 59 names of Air Force recruits which appeared in the ballot have been purged and there are about 70 men who as volunteers were rejected on medical grounds. Some of these may be re-examined later, but the class cannot be expected to provide many extra men for the territorial requirements of the area. The elimination of these classes alone leaves about 850 men at the most. Early medical examinations have shown that not more than about 500 of those will pass fit. 400 Likely to Encamp In addition there will be appeals from conscientious objectors and from relatives and employers on the grounds of hardship which may succeed when considered by the Hamilton District Manpower Advisory Committee. Present indications are, therefore, that no more than about 400 men will actually be available for camp from the 2000 balloted. The requirements of the No. 4 area sre given as between 750 and 1000 men available for camp. Reckoning on the experience of the first ballot, it would seem that to bring the existing units alone up to strength, and disregarding the possibility of new companies being formed, any supplementary ballot held would have to be larger perhaps than the original drawn. In fact, as many as 2500 additional names from the Hamilton area may yet have to be drawn to fulfill the requirements of the first ballot alone. Further medical returns have reached the Army Office, Hamilton. At Taumarunui yesterday 24 men were examined, 22 passing fit and two being temporarily unfit. Results ol' the medical examination of each individual are now being prepared at the area office to be forwarded to National Service Department, Hamilton. On Tuesday 88 men from Hamilton and Cambridge were Xrayed at the Waikato Hospital, 61 on Wednesday, and 23 on Thursday, a total of 172.

AREA IN SOUTH FEWER THAN HALF ARE FIT (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) DUNEDIN, Thursday So far fewer than one-half of the local men called for territorial service have been passed as fit. On Monday, when 168 men were examined, 74 were passed fit (44 per cent of the total), 33 were temporarily unfit, and 61 were permanently unfit. On Tuesday, when 166 men were examined, 72 were passed fit (43.3 per cent), 43 were temporarily unfit, and 51 permanently unfit. WEST COAST PERCENTAGE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) GREYMOUTH, Thursday A remarkably high standard of fitness was evident at the first of two medical examinations of West Coast men drawn in the territorial ballot, 67 of 101 examined being passed as fit. Only 16 are permanently unfit and 18 temporarily unfit. Twelve men out of 60 notified failed to attend for examination. There are still over 200 men awaiting examination in the West Coast district.