PARLIAMENT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 6 October 1917, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

THE EFFICIENCY BOARD. NOT A POLITICAL BODY. PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED. - WELLINGTON, October 3. “Statements have been made in certain quarters that the Efficiency Board has become a political or semipolitical body, and, consequently its efficiency has been impaired,” said the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives this afternoon. “The non-political members of the Board are free to undertake whatever inquiries they consider necessary or desirable under the order of reference, which has not been altered,” he declared. “Any recommendations or reports to be made by the Board shall be submitted for the consideration of Sir Joseph Ward and myself] In the event of the Ministerial members of the B'oard not approving of the decision arrived at by the five non-poli-tical members, a full meeting of the including the Ministerial members, will be held, at which the matters under consideration will be discussed. In the event of the chairman and the four district commissioners adhering to their decision, or making any modified decision, then they will be at liberty to submit to the Prime Minister such confirmed or mpdified recommendations, to be dealt with by the Government.” Mr .Massey expressed the opinion that this arrangement would result in the avoidance of any friction.