NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1917, Page 5

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD.

STATEMENT BY THE ACTING PREMIER. THE BOAliirS WORK. By Telegraph.—Pr;ss Association. Wellington, Feb. 28. Sir James Allen has announced thai the Government has agreed to the terms of appointment of the National Eiliciency Board. He defines the objects of the Board as efficiency during and after the .war. l'he members are: Messrs Yerguson (Wellington), Gunson (Auckland), Moss (Eketahuna), Frostick (Christchurch) and Hunt (lnvereargill). The last four will specially deal with Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland respectively. Mr Ferguson, as chairman, will assist Mr Moss when required. The functions of the Board are set out in 27 articles. The board may summon witnesses and examine them on' oath. The term of oliice is until revoked or for twelve months after the war. Three reports have already been received from the Board. Tin! first, deals with the organisation necessary to enable it to carry out its duties, and has been approved. Each member will nominate voluntary expert advisers for appointment by the Government. The Board will seek the assistance of existing organisations in order to co-ordinate producing, manufacturing, labor, commercial and distributing interests. The second report recommended \ immediate facilities for the management of soldiers' farms and businesses. The third report dealt with a scheme for the purchase of such farms by the (State, and it is still under consideration. As soon as possible the Board will consider the classification of industries. CARE OF 'SOLDIERS' FARMS. "As the Government considers it imperative "that immediate attention 6houhl be given to difficulties arisen under the Military Service Act through men being called up who were engaged In farming pursuits and other essential industries, the Efficiency Board was asked to consider these without delay. "In its second report .the Board, on February lli, expressed the opinion that immediate facilities should be provided by the Government for the management of soldiers' farms and tbev recommended that boards of trustees should be appointed for particular districts or subdistricts, as may hereinafter be provided, to advise, manage or dispose of soldiers' farms or, in case of death, to net (if required) for the beneficiaries." "These boards of trustees are to be (Lppointed by the Government, and are i-o consist of three members whose services should be rendered voluntarily. The trustees will appoint a supervisor | for each farm, who must be a practical farmer, and be approved of by the tional Efficiency Board. "It is intended that, there shall he the formation of a trust by general agreement arrived at between the soldier (farmer) and the trustees as to tlie lines upon which the farm is to be run. Difficulties with respect to labor and "keeping accounts ant! returns are dealt with in the report." "Somewhat similar proposals are submitted in the report with respect to the businesses of the soldiers. , "The second report recommended that a scheme should be devised under which farms, or, at the option of the Government, farms and stock, could be purchased by the State for utilisation for settlement purposes. "The Board was'asked to propound a scheme and did so in their third report, dated February 10. This report deals with the complicated problem of tlie possible purchase of soldiers' farms and businesses and, as it is still under the consideration of the Government, I do not propose to deal with it in thi* statement."