NATIONAL ORGANISATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2979, 17 January 1917, Page 4

NATIONAL ORGANISATION

A demand which must bo classed as timely and to the point was raised at the meeting, of tho Council of the Chamber of Commerco on Monday. Several members urged that the Government should bo asked to take immediate action in the direction of organising tho manpower of tho Dominion. Recent statements by tho Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Allen) show that he has this problem in mind, and that it has received some consideration in Cabinet. Hints have been dropped also by tho Minister of Internal Affairs that the women of the Dominion may before-long bo given an opportunity of taking the places of men in some industries, so as to increase the number of available recruits. This is well enough as far as it goes, but it is desiraTsie that tho Government should as speedily as possible evolve a really comprehensive scheme of national organisation. No one who has followed the proceedings of the Military Service Boards can be unaware that the problem of reconciling military demands with the claims of essential industries is already assuming definite shape. The necessity has not yet arisen for any large measure of substitution, but it may not bo long before it becomea necessary to call upon women to undertake a greater amount of tho work now dono by men. Sonic action will have to be taken very shortly if essential industries are not to suffer, and whatever is done should be done with an eye to future possibilities. A comprehensive plan of organisation is required in order that such mea-

sures of exemption, substitution, and so forth, as are taken from Lime to time may be made as effective as possible, bo that we may be well prepared to meet the further demands of tho war—demands to which it is not yet possible to set a limit. It is very necessary £!Sb that standards should be established to which the Military Service Boards could refer in J adjudicating upon claims for exemption. Tho suggestion made by one membor at the Chamber of Commerce meeting that the Military Service Boards consider onl.y the military aspect in dealing with appeals cannot be unreservedly endorsed, but it ft undoubtedly true that at present the boards are not in a position to accurately weigh the conflicting claims of military service and of the industries which must be kept going. The sooner patchy and makeshift arrangements are replaced by a boldly planned and comprehensive scheme of national organisation the better it will be for the country and for all concerned, and the opinion expressed at tho meeting referred to that the country is entitled to an early and definite lead on the subject from the Government will be echoed by all wlio fairly face the facts. The first thing neoessary is a comprehensive record of available resources in labour and of demands which have to be met or may reasonably bo expected to arise. A great part of the machinery required is already in existence, but what is needed ie that the Government should as soon as possible be in a position to say how many men in a given industry, if any, should be exempted, and also to supply essential industries with labour in substitution of that which has been taken from them under military necessity.