Conscription introduced
Prior to The Military Service Act being passed on 1st August 1916, which enabled any man of military age to be balloted for active service, a National Registration scheme had been established in October 1915 to combat dwindling reinforcement numbers.
National Registration required all men between the ages of 17 and 60 to register with the government and state their willingness to serve. Of the 208,513 men who registered, just over half were willing to serve with the NZEF. Of the remaining men 43,524 were willing to serve in a civil capacity only and 34,386 were not willing to serve in any capacity at all.