N.E.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3190, 14 September 1917, Page 6

N.E.

Sir,—Major-General. Russell's shrewd views on racing in war time, quoted in yesterday's Dominiox, move me to beg you to again give us a leader on National Efficiency. The grave step of setting up the National Efficiency Board, .with its wide order of reference, was a deliberate and voluntary act of Cabinet. It was understood that war conditions called for a careful review of our general affairs in order that men might bo set free for reinforcements with as little dislocation as possible of our most essential industries. . The selection of men, free from Paruariientary ties, Tinder the chairmanship of Mr. W. Ferguson, and the fact of their accepting office without any pay for their arduous duties, gave the public a sense of confidonce in the board. The board was conscious that-its Teports to Cabinet were to be confidential, and that its nowers were advisory more than administrative. The public, for this reason, have never known'thc large amount of work done by the board, because only a part has been published. But the public, seeing the resignation of the board and its acceptance by Cabinet, and the proposed reconstruction with a Minister in the chair, is justified in concluding one of two things: either that tlie special men set aside for spezia! work _ have summed up the evidence gathered incorrectly, or that their snmming-up is distasteful to the majority of Cabinet, for fear of offending votes or vested interests' If the first conclusion is _ right and the board have summed up their evidence incorrectly, or the answer to the sum is altered by further information ill the hands of Cabinet, then it i_s reasonable to expect tho board to revise its recommendations. But if the second conclusion is correct and Cabinet, is allow--ing Efficiency to talce second place and old" political habits to be a first consideration, then the board may well hesitate to work on, and it is a serious ,mattc for us all. > This is no time for autocrat or democrat to dictate procedure from- an offieinl.'grandstand without stating'reasons. Ministers are proverbially overworked. And yet here is a proposal that a Minister 'should add to his already arduous work another position which nlono will absorb the time and enemies of an able man if he does full justice to it. Cabinet rightly appeals to us to be loval in giving our our money, our services to the Eronire of which thev. for the time, are paid officials. .And Now Zealand lias shown a fine response. But she cannot do her best unless Cabinet also is ready to sacrifice "nlitical habits for the sake of National Efficiency, and with explicit frankness deal with tli" nuestions of to-day. The resignation of the ,N.E.B. is a cnll to all thoughtful citizens, and especially members of the trustee board- which have bfon sot im, to gravely consider the position and all that 1 it involves.—l am, ® tc " ; WIT.T, B. MATHESON. • ' Tirntahi, "Rketnlvuna. September 12. ,