EARLY SECOND BALLOT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21247, 18 October 1940, Page 4

EARLY SECOND BALLOT

If the Minister of National Security erred on the side of small numbers when the first ballot for the territorial forces was drawn, he seems to have made doubly sure of securing the required numbers in the second ballot to be taken next week. Thirty-four thousand men are to be drawn, and it is expected from this number to obtain about 10,000 fit men who can be posted for training. It has been stated officially that the report that a supplementary ballot to make good a shortage in the first draft was necessary was unjustified, but it is evident that at least in some districts the required numbers will not be available. Perhaps the second ballot is to be taken so soon so that any shortage in the first draft can be met. Of the 16,000 men drawn in the first ballot, appeals have been lodged on behalf of 7000. On the basis on which the appeal boards deal with these applications will depend to a large extent the strength of the first draft, for large numbers of men have been removed from the list for various reasons, and apparently something like 50 per cent, of the whole number have been found unfit for service. In the Hamilton district at least it appears to be inevitable that the number aimed at will not be reached, but the proportion of men in reserved occupations is probably greater in the Waikato than anywhere else in New Zealand, because so many men are engaged in the dairy industry and in coal mining. The decision to take a ballot of men required for the sixth reinforcements at the earliest possible date is wise. Men who are expected to serve will appreciate the longest possible notice of their selection so that they will have time to arrange their private affairs before their mobilisation. Men drawn in the territorial ballot and subsequently also in the ballot for the Expeditionary Force will not be called up for territorial training, and for that reason also it is desirable that the results of the Expeditionary Force ballot should be known as soon as possible, even if the men are not to be despatched to camp for some time. Those who have already served their territorial course of training and are then drafted for the Expeditionary Force will perhaps consider themselves lucky, or unlucky, according to their own points of view.