Story: First World War

The first conscription ballot

The first conscription ballot

For the first two years of the First World War volunteers supplied the troops that New Zealand sent overseas. But by 1916 the number of volunteers was slowing and many resented those who they felt were 'shirking' their patriotic duty. Conscription was introduced and the first ballots of all eligible single men took place in November 1916. Here, officials are drawing the marbles of the ballot. A year later married men also began to be conscripted by ballot.

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Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: Auckland Weekly News, 23 November 1916, p. 35

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ian McGibbon, 'First World War - Preparing for the European campaign', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/34118/the-first-conscription-ballot (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 20 Jun 2012