THE COUNTRY'S COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 272, 6 August 1918, Page 5

THE COUNTRY'S COMMERCE

SECOND DIVISION CALL, At tho meeting of the AVellington Chamber of C'ommerco held yesterday tho following letter was received froin tho secretary of the Napier Chamber of Commerce:— "It will no doubt be universally conceded that the ealliug up of all reservists for military service may entail much hardship on those passed as fit, whereis those classed C 2 practically escapo_ sacrifice. For instance, two men in a certain class are called in ono ballot, both aro in business on their own account in the same town and in tho same line. One is passed fit and has to sacrifice his business; the other is turned down and gets the benefit of tho other man's business when the latter leaves for camp. After discussion of this question at a recent meeting of this chamber the following resolution was adoptcd-.Vflnt this chamber circularise all other chambers of commerco in tho Dominion requesting that they co-operate in urging upon tlio Government the advisability of appointing a Board of Control in regard to all trades, businesses, and professions, so as to put on a moio equitable footing those men who have been called up for military Bervicc, especially with a view to compelling those who are left behind to make equal finnnciul sacrifice with those called up.' My committee trusts that your chamber will give this matter its very serious consideration, and hopes that you will strongly urge tho Government to take iminediato action. Members of tho council, in considering the letter, admitted that the matter constituted a problem, and thai., as things were, tho sacrifice made or to be uiade by men of the Second Division was not equal, nor could it very well be seen how it could be made equal. The question of the sacrificing by a man of his business, or leaving it to someono else to manage, had been gone into by tlie National Efficiency Board, who had instituted. advisory committees right through the country to Rive advice aim even to tako over the management of businesses owned by men who had been called up. If anything further were necessary, it was a matter for tho Government to take action in.