MAN POWER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 16 January 1917, Page 4

MAN POWER

A CALL FOR ORGANISATION.

"We'ought to force the Government to organise the man-power of the Dominion." was an opinion expressed by Mr. L. A. Edwards at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Edwards said the errors made by England in the- early days of the war in the. matter of using man-power should be a lesson to New.Zealand. The Chamber should watch the case very closely.

Mr. C. M. Luke said the matter was indeed one to watch. No doubt the Government had its eye on the subject, and maybe something would be heard as a α-esult of recent sittings of Cab-

Mr. R. Hnll said the Military Service Boards seemed; to be set on sending every man to the front without duly considering the claims for lromc service.

• Mr. Luke: Von say /.they consider just tho military aspect? Mr. Hall: Yes.

Mr. IDihrards: They certainly don't consider the economic attitude sufficiently.

Mr. J. F. Atkins said the trouble was with the employers, who did''not have cases prepared. If a good case wore presented) to tho board that ease would get a good bearing. But oases did not seem to bo prepared in advance.

Mr. Edwards: Wo are starting at, the -wrong end. of tlio stick. It is not for us, but for fclio Government to give a lead. It- is for us to obey.

Mr. A. Leigli Hunt thought Mr. Edwards was right. It whs time a policy was arrived at. Certain industries did not know yet whether they were to he classed as essential industries, and such' information would be a valuable guide. He thought a Com-' mission should be set up to decide on a. policy,, Supreme Court Judges to form part of the Commission; and the manufacturing and producing industries to be represented. If a policy was thus arrived 1 at, the Military Service Boards would naturally take cognisance of it. The executive was instructed to givo effect to the opinions' expressed at the meeting and to ropor.t at nest meeting of the council. K I

A member: But you are expecting something' to be done at the meetings of Cabinet which are being held.

The chairman: Yes, we may hear something soon.