EFFICIENCY BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1917, Page 3

EFFICIENCY BOARD.

CONFERENCE OF TRUSTEES. CONSERVING OF INDUSTRIES, At the conference of trustees of the Ellieiciicy Board at Hawera on Friday, Mr. Weir dwelt on tlie ncod for conserving tlie various industries, and pointed out that in order to do this it would be necessary to ascertain the position of the industries so far as labor and organisation were concerned.

The chairman replied tiiat the Organisation Committee appointed at the liltham meeting had this mater in hand. I hey were already in possession of a good deal of information relative to the different industries in Taranaki, and when the full statistics were compiled the information woui;! ioe supplied to the Efficiency Board.

APPOINTMENT OP SECRETARY. Mr. Morton moved tlmt Mr. Buckerlug'fl lie appointed secretary to the Board of Trustees in Taranaki Carried. A committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs. Morton, Pitt, and Belcher (with power to add) was appointed to confer with the Efficiency Board in Wellington with regard to the secretary's remuneration. ENLARGEMENT OP BOUNDARIES. Mr. Winks moved: "That the boundaries of the Taranaki district be extended so as to include the whole of the district covered by the Military Service Board sittings at Hawera and New Plymouth." Mr. Morton seconded tile resolution, which was carried. PROVINCIAL MATTERS. The chairman said he took it that matters relating to the whole of _ae province generally would be dealt with by the whole of the Board of Trustees assembled in meeting, and that local affairs would bo discussed by the local liustces. 1 lie Board of Trustees as a whole, for instance, could deal with the matter mentioned by Mr. Pitt—that of hind for returned soldiers. Mr. E. Dixon moved the followin" rosoliitipn: That any matters of provincial interest arising in any industry in the Board s district which in-their opin'.Oil, after consulting with the chairman and secretary, should demand the calling of special meetings of the whole of the Boards, be left in the hands of the Boards to call meetings of the Board. Mr. Kennedy seconded.

Mr. Pitt moved, and Mr. Brown seconded, the following amfr.dment: "'mat an executive of 0110 member from each Board of Trustee.? bo appointed to deal v. ith any matters of provincial importance, and that the executive should liav-j the power to call general meetings of the whole' of the Boards.'' °

The resolution was withdrawn in favor of the amendment, which was carried.

The following executive was appointed: Messrs S. Pitt (Stratford), ,T. S. Comiett (Xew Plymouth, country), ,T. B. Murdoch (Ilawora). W. I). Po'wdroll (Mnnaia), \V. K. Percival (Inglewood), A. Symes (Patea). Clifton, KHhnni, Xew Plymouth (town), V.'hancamomonj and i.iienuaki'.ra trustees will appoint representatives on the executive.

SCOPE OF THE BOARD. Mr. Pitt reintroduced this matter, and moved the following resolution: "That this meeting of Boards of Trustees consider the scope of the provisions as to duties of the Boards made," and as appearing in tlie notice in t hp Gazette, is tor> limited, and that there are other •means of assisting the national efficiency which the Beards can take and are willing to undertake, and that they desire to have a, more exact deilnition of the powers of the Boards and Qf the duties expected of then."

Mr. Powdrell seconded the resolution, which was carried.

LAND FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Mr. Pitt referred) again to the advisableness of a member of the local boards of trustees conferring with the Land Purchase Boards as to the most siHtalile land for returned soldiers. He moved: "That it be a recommendation to the Board that a member of the local Board of Trustees be consulted in conjunction with the Land Purchase Boards as to the price and suitabilitj' of any land purchased for returned s6ldier.?."

Mr Powdrell, in seconding the, motion, said jfc would bo found that the high priced land was the. most suitable for small settlement, and would be the best, for the returned men and the State as well.

The chairman said that although ho was in favor of the resolution, he did nott think the authorities would allow an additional member to be appointed to the Land Purchase Board, on the ground that its constitution could not be altered.

Mr. Aroa brought under the notice of the executive the Canadian system, where the Western Pacific Railway Company were purchasing ready-made farms for returned warriors.

The resolution was carried, and it was agreed that it be forwarded to the Minister of Lands through the Efficiency Board in Wellington. INDISPENSABLE MEN. There was a long discussion with regard to the be9t method of supplying iie necessary information in regard to men appealing, and who were indispensable to the producing industries, tq the military representative on the Appeal Boards. Finally Mr. Aroa moved: "That in the case of a man appealing members of the Board of Trustees may supply the secretary with information in referonve to men who, they think, deserve consideration, and that the secretary forward such to a member to place before the military representative on the Military Service Board."

Mr. Dunn seconded the resolution. Mr. Dixon: What about the men who won't appeal and who are indispensable to a particular industry? The chairman replied that the military service boards had nothing to do with the men who did not appeal. Ho thought that in the case of a man who was required in a particular industry, and who did not) appeal, his case, would be placed beforo the Commandant of the Forces. No doubt a special tribunal could be Set up to deal with the. cases mentioned by Mr. Dixon. Mr. Pitt suggested the appointment of an expert adviser to the Military, Service Boards. An expert adviser had been appointed in the Auckland district. ' .a he resolution w»» cj.ried.

MILITARY SERVICE ACT. Mr. Dixon referred to the present industrial trouble, and said it would be si good thing if that representative meeting were to pass a resolution expressing its willingess to support the Government in its endeavor to carry out the Military Service Act. He moved the following resolution: "That this meeting of Boards of Trustees in the Taranaki district expresses its sympathy and willingness to heartily eo-operate with the National Government in their endeavor to carry out the Military Service Act, and to do all in our power to assist them in securing the men needed for reinforcements till the end of the war." ' Mr. Dixon added that he was sure that if necessary the people of the province would go into the mines and help to keep up the coal output of the country. That was the spirit of the land. (Hear, hear). \ Mr. Powdrell seconded ths resolution, which was hearily supported and carried. PASTORAL LAUDS. Mr. McCutcheon introduced tlie question of securing pastoral lands for returned soldiers, and he moved the following resolution-. "That in regard to .pastoral hill country in Taranaki in the occupation of settlers enlisting or draws, in the ballot, the eligible for military service, where such settlers are willing ■to dispose, of their holdings at a. valuation to he made by the Government, it is advisable that these properties be acquired for returned soliders accustomed to or desirous of entering upon pastoral pursuits, in prefeence to placing them upon remote virgin hush country, thus in great measure meeting the labor sliorage created on these partially improved areas by the enrolment of the owners, and placing the most effective practical check upon the rapid depreciation in value, of improvements which njust, arise from the employment of such paid assistance, largely inexperienced and inefficient as is now available, for the handling of these lands." This was seconded by Mr. Halcombe and carried.