EFFICIENCY BOARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 5

EFFICIENCY BOARD

THE REPORTED RESIGNATION CONFERENCE WITH PRIME MINISTER TO-DAY. The relations between the National Efficiency Board and the Governmant is the subject of much discussion both in tho city and in Parliament. __ Though, neither side will make a definite statement, it is well known that a crisis has been reached. Tho position at present appears to be this: Tho board has placed, its resignation in tho hands of the Government, and is waiting for Cabinet to make a public statement explaining the situation. . Mr. Guuson, the Auckland representative, whou asked' to make an announcement for publication concerning tho hoard's resignation, said: "I cannot possibly say anvthing about it at present. We are'the confidential advisers of the Government, and it is not for us to make a statement. All I can say at this juncture is that the board is still sitTliis apparently means that the board has handed in.ils resignation, but that the resignation has not yet been nc-. cepted. Tho board, it is said, holds that the Government has not given its recommendations the attention they deserve, and contends that if its carefully-thought-out suggestions are to bo ignored, then its work is vain. The board s chief canso of complaint is the indifference, not tho hostility, of the Government. It is true that during the early part of tho session one Minister openly declared that ho would not submit to dictation from; the board, but subsequently that statement was modißed and partly explained * The Prime Minister declares th'atjia is not aware of any friction between the board and the Cabinet. He Points out, however, that the responsibility for the government of the Dominion must rest upon the Cabinet and Parliament, and it mav not always be possible lo give immediate effect to every "commendation the board may make Mr. Master recognises that tho board has done, and is doing, much good work, and is doing it thorouKl.lv. He is oesiroiis of working Trmonioiislv with the board, and mM to Lave a talk wit 1, its ™ri*» (o-dav He hopes that the difficulties wildi have arisen will be removed, and Hat the 1.0ar.1 will see its way to go ou with the task it was set up to perform. It is quite possible that the resigns, tion mav be conditional, and tbat the parties may arrive at a workable arrangement at *li« conference to-day. "Wo hear to-day that the Efficiency Hoard has resigned," said Mr. L. SI. Isitt, in tho Houso of Representative* yesterday. , . , Mr. Massev: It has not resigned. Mr Isitt: 'It has re-signed, or if it has not resigned it has been on the edgo of resigning, I know, for a vory long tune. Ho proceeded to upbraid tho Government for disregarding the advice of men selected, because they were men whoso opinions were rained.