ESSENTIAL WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3015, 28 February 1917, Page 6

ESSENTIAL WORK

PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY TASKS OF NEW BOARD NOW, AND AFTER THE WAR WIDE SPHERES OF ACTIVITY i STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. A statement on the work of tbe Industrial Efficiency Board was made by the Hon. Sir. James Allen '. last night. "To-day the Government agreed to the terms of- appointment or tile members of the National Efficiency Board, and I hastened to give the'public information about the ■ objects for sijoh the board was..constituted," said Sir James Allen. .."The term 'national efficiency' indicates the general purpose: but it must be understood to mean national efficiency in fullest interpretation during the war . and after the war is over. It is very , i'ar-reaching, and demands from the . /board and the organisation yet to be '■' created under the board, unselfish and ..patriotic effort, and this, I feel sure, will be readily given.- , '..."It also demands from everyone syni- . pathy with and.ready assistance to the board and its far-reaching organisation, • and I confidently invite the people of New Zealand to spare no effort to help ' our country to profit by the lessons and experiences of this time of trial.

A Voluntary Service. ... "I draw attention- to the fact that the members of the board have readily -, given their servioes. to New Zealand, provision having-been, made to pay_ only '.'.• travelling allowances and actual locomotion , expenses. This spirit of sacrifice y in the interest of the whole of our '-people, it is hoped, will be a stimulus -•promising success to the work about to 'be undertaken. ' '•-' "The members of the board are:— ■Messrs. Wm. Ferguson, of Wellington, -chairman; J. H. Gunson, Auckland; -Tubs. Moss, Eketahuna; J. A. Frostick, j-Christchurch; and '.W. D. Hunt, Inver- <■' cargill. .",' "The members will meet from time to time as a board, and in the interval individual members, will be concerned ■with-the-interests of tho four military ;" districts, viz.:—Mr. Gunson, Auckland; •Mr. Moss, Wellington; Mr. Fro3ti<s, ■-•■ Canterbury; and Mr, Hunt, Otago and Southland. "The duties of chairman will occupy ■-most of the time of Mr. Ferguson, bat he will assist Mr. Moss in the Welling- ; ton district. "Military districts, which/' comprise ■ : flreas defined by borough and county boundaries, have been selected for convenience. Functions of the Board. "The Government has agreed to' con* stitute the members of the board to be jointly and severally a Commission for .the fpjlo.wing purposes:— (1) To'inquire us to what industries ••or occupations in .New Zealand may be •properly regarded as wholly or in part ■ essential or as not essential for the pub- . -lid welfare.. ' .

■- (2) J.o inquire as to what restrictions, modifications, or extensions should b& adopted in' or in connection with any such industry or occupation, so as to secure greater economy and efficiency therein. i

(3) To inquire as to the classes and quantity of labour necessary for the maintenance and regulation of any industry or occupation, whether essential for the public welfare or not. (4) To- inquire as to the classes and quantity of labour available for the maintenance and regulation of any such industry or occupation, and as to how, in respect of essential industries and occupations, such labour may best be obtained, due Tegard being had to the interests of .other established industries ■and occupations.

✓ (5) To iiyquire as to the advisability of employing women in suitable indus-

■tries or occupations; as to the extent to which it is'practicable or desirable to ■employ women in lieu of men; and as to what extent women are available for eni.Juoymrat in such industries or occupations.:'

.'■ (G) (a.) With reference t»,the men employed in essential industries or occupations, or in any essential industry or tecupation, to ascertain from time to time what proportion of such men is liable for military service,,and what proportion is not so liable; with reference to the men who are liable for. niili,tary service, to ascertain from time to time, so far as possible, the number of men who are medically unfit for military service/the number of men who have been exempted on. appeal to a Military Sefvioe Board, and the number still liable for service, distinguishing in the last case between men in the First Division and men in the Second Division of the Eeserve..(b) To ascertain so far as possible the number and class of men employed in partially-essential .or non-essential industries, and. not liable for military service, who may be available (if required) for transfer to any essential industry or occupation

,(7) To inquire as to the best methods ot.be adopted for.,.the employment in essential industries or occupations or otherwise of persons of military age who are unfit for military service. i -{8) To'., as to. the advisability and best/methods jof -organising the labour available for essential or other industries or occupations in New Zealand or.in any part thereof,. with a view to securing the highest . efficiency with economy. i ■-...'

■"'. (9) To inquire as to the use or as to the advisability of using any class of machinery, tools, or appliances in any particular'industry or industries, with a view to efficient and economic production;

■' (10) To inquire as to. any restriction, either organised or otherwise, that may be alleged to exist to the detriment of the public welfare, in any trade, service, industry,, or-occupation. " (11) With respect to industries where 'the raw materials used therein are wholly "or! in substantial part produced in New "Zealand, to inquire as to tiie best methods to be adopted'for- the production and .preparation of such raw materials, and with respect to any raw materials not "indigenous to New Zealand, to inquire as Ito.the best methods for;the treatment of such .materials in. New' Zealand. ;

,' (12) To inquire "generally to any mat-' .ters relating' to:'or for promoting efficiency of production. ■ '• '.(13) To inquire as to .the-statistics of New Zealand and other countries, with .respect to the conditions of employment (including hours, of labour and rates of wages), and with respect to the output and production in connection with any industry or industries.

.'■. (U) To inquire as to tho desirability of. limiting or prohibiting the exportation of any materials.

(15) To inquire as to the desirability of Restricting or 'inhibiting the manufacture, import, transport, sale, or use' of any article that is not essential to the public welfare.

-... (10) To inquire as to the desirability of restricting or stopping the execution of public works, whether under the control of the Government or of any locul authority.

-••(17) To inquire as to the'desirability of restricting or stopping any form of public transit not essential to the public welfare.

• (18) To inquire as to the desirability of restricting or stopping any form of amusement not essential to the public welfare. \ '" (19) To inquire as to any rules or regulations made by any employers or association of employers, or any workers or association of workers, with a- view to ascertaining whether such rules or regulations, in so far as they, affect any trade, industry or occupation, place any restriction detrimental to tho public welfare upon efficient and economical production.

(20) To inquire. as to the necessity or advisability aiid the best methods of carrying on or disposing-of the farms or other'businesses'of men engaged in military service.

(21) To inquire as to tho advisability of adopting ; improved methods, for the in-

struction and technical training of workers with a view to securing more efficent service, and generally as to the necessity for further technical education and for scientific research with respect to the maintenance development or establishment of industries. (22) Tq inquire as to the advisability of establishing new industries in Now Zealand or of developing existing industries .whether during or after the war. •(23) To inquire as to the best mothods of insuring the employment in suitable capacities of returned soldiers. (21) To inquire as to the necessity or otherwise' of modifying or suspending any of the provisions of any award of the Court ot Arbitration, or of any industrial agreement, or of any ruies of a trade union' or other association, so as to permit of returned soldiers who may be partially disabled, being suitably employed and remunerated.

(25) To inquire as to what measures may be necessary or advisable with a view to promote thrift, and to discourage luxury.

(26) Generally and without restricting any of the special powers conlerred by the foregoing provisions to inquire as to the advisability of the exercise of any powers conferred on the Governor or the (jovernor-in-Council, or on any Minister of the Crown by the Regulation of Trade and Commercd Act. 1914. and its amend!ow ts " °!' the IVar Ee Kulations Act, IJI4, and its amendments, or by any other Act passed, or that may be horeaiter passed having reference to the war or to conditions created thereby. (27) In pursuance of any such'inouiry from time to time to report to and advise, the Government as to any of the matters aforesaid or in any way related thereto. '

Wide Powers Conferred. /'The the board may exercise either separately or jointly all the powers and authorities conferred upon a. commission by tho Commissions «f Inquiry Act, 1908, and may summon wi£ and hear evidence Authority under these- powers is given to examine on oath or otherwise as may be allowed by law such persons as the members of the board may think capable of affording them information in the premises, and to examine such documents as they may deem likely to afford them information on the subject under inquiry, and to Teport to the Government touching.all matters wherein they may make inquiry in pursuance of their instructions. The board's term of office is, until revoked by Order-in-Council, or until tho expiration of 12 months after the termination of the war, whichever first happens. "In.addition to the powers specified in the Commission the board may be' called upon by the Government from time to lime to undertake muoh other inquiries, and to perform such other duties as the Government may think necessary.

To Make Good the War Waste. "I quote from the original proposal submitcixl to tue Uovernnienc in winch, atter referring to the loss of men'during the war and the necessity to make appointment oi "voluntary experts in partno returning soldiers, many with oinciency reduced owing to wounds and sickness, 1 wrote, 1 'It we are to maintain our exports, provide for the essential industries of the country, and establish now industries,' it is imperative that capital should be employed to the best advantage in essential industries, and that byi reorganisation and scientific training the productiveness of lab.our may be increased. To do this effectively the. State will require the assistance of the most capable business men in New iieaiand, and it will be necessary to give. them wide administrative powers. Iv is proposed to encourage voluntary effort as much as possible, and it is believed' that there are numbers of business men of proved ability, not available for military service, who are ready and willing to devote' themselves to the service of their country in this great crisis once the State has' shown how their efforts may best be 'utilised.'

"The Government agreed to the formation of the {National Efficiency Board, and to submit for the consideration of the members of the board the proposals anil organisatioE suggested. Three re-' ports have been received from the board. The first, on February 5, dealt to some extent with the organisation necessary to be created to • enable the board to' ' carry out- its duties, and suggested the provision to absorb into our industries icular channels •of • investigation in each district or sub-district, and in each industry or sub-industry.' This proposal has been approved by the Government. Bach member of. the board will. nominate, through the chairman, these voluntary expert advisers for appointment by the Government, and I trust that every assistance will be given to the members of the 'board in making the selection. ■ "The members of the board will 'seek the assistance and co-operation of existing organisations, with the view to coordinating the producing, manufacturing, labour, commercial, and distributing interests of this Dominion.' The first report contains many other valuable suggestions, which, if quoted, would make this statement ,too lengthy. They will be published in due course for public information. Caring For Soldiers' Farms, "As the Government considered it imperative that immediate attention should be given to the difficulties arising under the Military' Service Act through men beng called up who were engaged in farming pursuits and other essential industrfes, the board was asked to consider these without delay. In the second report the board, on February 16, expressed the opinion 'that immediate facilities should be provided by the Government for the management of soldiers' farms,' and they recommeuded that 'boards of trustees should be appointed for particular districts, or sub-districts as may hereinafter be provided'to advise, manage, or dispose of soldiers' farms, or, in the case of deathi to act (if required) for the beneficiaries.\ These boards'of trustees, are to be appointed by the Government, and are to consist of three members, whose services should be rendered voluntarily. The trustees will appoint a supervisor for each farm,'who must .be a practical farmer, and be approved of by the National Efficiency Board. ■It is intended that there shall be the formation of a trust by (general agreement arrived at between the soldier-(farmer) and the trustees as to the lines upon which the farm is to bo run. Difficulties with respect to labour and keeping of proper accounts and, returns are. dealt with in the report. Somewhat similar proposals are.submitted in this second report with respect to, businesses of soldiers.

"The second report recommended that a scheme'should'be devised under which the farms, or at the option of the Government, farms and stock, could bo purchased by the State for utilisation for settlement purposes. . The ]x>ard were asked to propound a scheme and did so in their third report, dated February 19. This report deals with the complicated problem of the. possible purchase of soldiers' farms a'nd businesses, and as it is still under the consideration of the Government! do not propose to deal with it in this statement.

Classification of Industries. "As soon,as possible the board will coneider the classification of industries into essential, partially essential, and nonessential, and the members will <Wvc earnest attention to the question of labour supply. These pressing questions bavins been dealt with, the board will take into consideration the other important matters referred to in the Commission."