Story: First World War

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.