THE EFFICIENCY BOARD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 4

THE EFFICIENCY BOARD

. ' ■ —*» '. ■ .STATEMENT BY MR. FROSTICK. ' ■ By Teloexapji.—Eresß. Association. Christchuroh,, January 23. Mr. J. A. Frostick, Efficiency Commissioner for Canterbury, stated today- that he had received .a telegram from Mr. AY. Ferguson (Wellington) as to a statement sent by the Frees Association from Chrjgtchurch to Wel.Jiftgtpn that h< was , asked if the board had resigned on the .Government's refusal -to place the board on a basis that was more satisfactory to. its members, ar.d that he had replied that he could not deny tjie . reported resignation. The .statement was incorrect. Wiafc ]ie said in reply to the' question of a reporter was that he could not deny a report/ that the board was finishing its work next month, but the word resignation was a -wrong interpretation of his words. . Mr, Prostick added that he had communicated , with-Mr.. Ferguson, suggesting that in the, public -in...terest the board's memorandum, .of January.ls to ihs Acting-Prime Minis- . ter, dealing with the question, .should ba published. The board had reviewed jts position with regard to matters arising directly out ,of the..war, which were referred to definitely in the order .of reference under which the board was established. The .board's work neces.sarjly in that direction was almost completed. The board simply_ desired to know the Government's wishes as to its future operations, particularly as it affected post-war work, and it had made it absolutely clear that the board as a- whole and the commissioners individually wished to help .in any way and to continue- to do any work that might benefit tho Dominion, but it wishes to have ,some v indiestjoni as to . the directions its investigations should take. That explanation completely disproved any suggestion of resignation, but, unless tho Government wished the hoard to do work outside'the order of reference, the work practicnlly was ended. The Government apparently did not wish the hoard to do work outside ; the order of refereive, and the board must go out of office as there was nothing more for it to do.