NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1743, 2 August 1917, Page 3

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. REFERENDUM ON PROHIBITION WITH COMPENSATION. Wellington, July 31. A report by the National Efficiency Board was presented to Parliament by Sir James Allen to-day. GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF EVERYBODY. Having in view the necessity during 7 the war for the working power of the Dominion to be utilised to the best possible advantage, both in respect of industries and occupations arising from the continued operation of the .Military Service Act, the Board recommended the Government that legislation should be enacted under which power should be vested in the Government for the direction and control of all persons. Although the organisation of the National Efficiency BoartMias, so far assisted the carrying on by private arrangement of soldiers’ farms and businesses, it is quite clear that some oilier method must he adopted to meet the situation, when numbers of men in (he Second Division are removed. The Hoard is of opinion that the time lias arrived when it lias become necessary to provide for the possibility of national industrial service in some form or oilier. Further, the Board is -of opinion that, a National Register of persons employed in trades, industries, and occupations should he made, but not with any view to compulsory industrial service, except in the bona lido Government works for war purposes. The Board believes that'whilst the great hulk of the population is inleimely loyal to the Grown, yet Mionld any allcmpt he made to conscript or in any way force labour from one occupation to another under private employment or for ordinary trade profit, most serious industrial difficulties would occur. NATIONAL ORGANISATION. Under this heading the Board says Iliad the lust thing necessary is to make it possible in trades and induslrics for substituted or diluted labour to he employed. To do this it will be necessary to promole legislation to give the Government power (o suspend, modify, or alter any award of the Court of Arbitration, or any other restriction which is at present placed upon the eiupioymenl of particular persons. It is not suggested f hat any powers should he given which would enable I he Government to interfere with the award wages for expert workers. Wages so fixed should remain unaltered, hut it will he necessary to make some provision in order to accept the services of unskilled persons, mule or female, who volunteer for special work, or who are willing to undertake particular work in order that the places of men rendered vacant by the operation ol tin- .Military Service Act may he Idled in as efficient a manner as possible. The Foard suggests the formation of Special Wages Readjustment Boards in each military district for the purpose. FLOUR AND I’Ai’ER, Wealing with its enquiries relating to the sale and delivery of bread, I he Boa rd slates it-decided that, allhough it may at a later date have to recommend the Government lo consider the question of “standard” flour, as the Government had been successful in obtaining .sufficient wheal to tide the Dominion over the next few months until the new crop is gathered in, they determined nut at present to make any recommendation a.-. 1 o the Hibslitulion of white by “standard" dour. In view of the paper shortage, the Board recommends the Minister to inform newspaper proprietors that all mailer not of daily interest, such as serials, he deleted. The opinion is expressed that many newspapers could be combined. HORSE-RAGING. lu the matter of horse-racing the Board reported that it was of opinion that racing is non-essential, and that no man should be exempted from military services owing to Jus connection wilh or employment in racing or the breeding or handling of horses for racing purposes; and (luring the continuance of the war and for .six months thereafter races should he held upon the following public holidays only; Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Anniversary Day, Easier Monday, King’s Birthday, Labour Day, and after 2 p.m. on the statutory weekly ha If-holiday, A VOTE ON LIQUOR QUESTION. The Board stales it lias not been iullqeuml by the moral aspeels of the liquor question at all. It lays emphasis on the economic advantages of removing the inefficiency at present created by alcohol. The Board is convinced that from a national efficiency point of view it would lie beneiicial to the nation and conducive to the well-being of the people that the importation, manufacture, and sale of wines, beer, and spirituous liquors, including medicinal preparations containing alcohol, should be prohibited. This view is supported in the opinion of the Board by the results obtained in New Zealand under conditional prohibition and by experience wherever prohibition has operated. The Board recognises that prohibition is a people’s question, and it therefore recommends that legislation should be passed submitting the question of national prohibition to a vote of the people at the earliest possible moment, the vote to be on the basis of immediate prohibition accompanied by reasonable

compensation to the interests aiN fected. No compensation need be paid to individual employees, since they could be absorbed in other,occupations. The parties to be compensated, says the Board, are represented by (he breweries, wholesale and retail licensed vendors, vignerous and wine manufacturers, hop-growers, and owners of properties to which a retail license is attached. The compensation should be based upon the difference between the market value of the assets as used at present, taking into consideration the ]iresont licensing laws and all the other circumstances and conditions associated with the trade, and the value of such assets without a license. The Board suggests that the money could ho paid in Government securities nearing the same rate of interest and with the same currency as war debentures. It is satisfied (hat the .State would he recouped by increased national efficiency. The Board believes the people of New Zealand would approve of (he opportuniiy being afforded them to vote upon the question. EARLY CLOSING ALTERNATIVE. The Board adds that whatever may be done with regard to prohibilioii, it earnestly recommends as essentia! to national efficiency that legislation shall be passed without delay lo provide for the enforcing of the following conditions: —No sole of liquor is to lie permitted before 8 a.in. or after 0 p.m. on four Jays in the week, or after 9 p.m. on one day and 1 p.m. on the statutory half-holiday; no sale of alcoholic liquors shall ho permitted-on Sundays or on certain holidays. The Foard .suggests a provision to permit the serving of liquors to hoarders in the regulation meal rooms of (ho hotels. Auolher recommendation is Fiat the standard strength of brandy, whisky, rum and gin shall he reduced to not more than 50 degrees underproof. Certain amendments designed lo increase the stringency of (he licensing laws are suggested, including the abolition of all packet and conditional licenses. In conclusion, the Board places nil record the fact that, whilst at ihsd it looked into this matter from I lie point of view of war conditions, yet as the inquiry proceeded it became apparent that in (he interests of national efficiency, the Boai’d had to consider the liquor question also from the point of view of the efficiency of the State and of the individual, both during the war and afterwards. It has therefore drafted its recommendations so as to promole permanent national efficiency. ITS RECEPTION IN PARLIAMENT. Air \V. H. Field emphasised (he point that, while the Board was acting wilh the best of intentions, it could only make reports, and had no oilier power. The Aliliiury Appeal Boards resented and disregardmi the Efficiency Board’s recommendations. Air Field declared the country (listriels were crying out loudly about the best dairy factory workers being ordered in I o camp from one district, but exempted in another. Dr. Newman entered a strong proles! against the National Government ignoring members, and Ids remarks were supported by several other members. Dr. Newman said plenty of them could have been put on Lo these commissions during Hie recess without pay, but they had never been asked lo help, and were treated like nonentities. He contrasted this wilh Hie use made of members of Parliament in England. Sir James Allen said there were other and special reports, which would lie laid before Hie House as soon us possible. Replying io criticism, Hie Minister said ho could not say how many of the Board’s recommendations had been adopted by Parliament, but he believed all the recommendations concerning soldiers’ farms but one had been adopted by Cabinet. In many eases Hie Board was arranging to carry on the businesses of men sent to the front, and the businesses of Hie Second Division would be dealt with, in due course. Replying.lo other members, Sir .lames Allen said, in bis opinion members did their duty in Parliament, and their value lay in their influence upon public opinion. He had circularised members of Parliament indicating a direction in which members could most materially assist Hie Government, and ho wished to say how grateful he was for Hi (hr help to the Government in Hie extremely difficult period when ihe Alilitary Service Act came into operation.. Owing (o members’ cooperation (he Act came more smoothly into operation than would otherwise have been the case. Air Isitl, referring to Hie report upon the liquor quesHon, said the point was (hat this Board of business men had come to the same eonelusion regarding the trade lo which so-called “wowsers” had come, which proved that the “wowsers” were not far from wrong. Personally, lie opposed the idea of compensation, but he was not sure that he would not agree to it if by so doing they got rid of the business for ever. Mr Malcolm said the Board had rightly defined the position when it said the liquor trade was the people’s question. The people did not forget that they had given the trade a great concession when they agreed to forego the triennial poll on the liquor question. They naturally expected some consideration for that concession. The Prime Alinister promised that a day would be given to discuss the report.