PROTECTION OF BUSINESSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1917, Page 2

PROTECTION OF BUSINESSES.

WHEN SECOND DIVISION CALLED .UP. AX JXTKKKSTIMt DISCUSSION. An interesting discussion took place at the meeting of the Second Division League held at Xew Plymouth on Thursday evening relative {» the position of businesses mid undertakings' of tlio men called, brlonghig- to tjie Second Division, called up for active service.

Mr. R. J. Dcaro introduced the subject, stating that ho thought the Government 'should give some indication of its intentions in regard to the matter, which was of vital concern to the whole of the business men of New Zealand. Men would he cillod up and have to leave their businesses that have taken a lifetime to build up. With the drain of men it was improbable that efficient managers could be found, and it meant the businesses would be wound up at great loss to the owners, and the remaining 'businesses in the particular lines affected would be left to make the bigger profits. Was it right that one man should go away to light and another, his competitor, be left to battenT Should not the Government take' some means to protect the business interests of the man called up? He certainly thought it should, but up to the present it hat! yliovvn no indication or moving to help or save the businesses of the Second Division Reservists.

, Mr. J. McLeod was glad the matter Iwas brought up, as it was one of the greatest importance to the business community. It was, ho admitted, not an easy problem to solve, hut they had managed to meet it-successfully in "'.ngland, and there was no reason why if the position was determinedly faced here something could not tie done to help taiose defending the country. It was no use raying that a reservist called up could obtain, the service? of a manager to hold the fort. Many businesses were the result of a commercial lifetime's •'building up. They were part of the life; as ib were, of the owners, wno alone uii'derstood their intricacies and difficul-1 ties. He instanced his. own case. Ho 'did not know where to look for someone to take his place when he was called up. Those who could assist in this way were in the :ame boat as he—liable to lie 'Called, up. If be was obliged to stop his business whilst ha was away—and this 'was a possibility he had to take into serious, account—was it right or fair that the three remaining printing 'businesses in the town should te left to share his connection? —(Voice: No 1). The Government, when approached on matters like this, said, .."'Consult the Efficiency Board; they are attending to. those tilings."' But to his mind the Efficiency Board was a howling farce. They had, as far as he knew, only done one' thing—made repiescntations to reduce the number of race meetings, as if that had anything to do wifli protecting the business interests of the men about to be called up. A voice: It has suggested utilising the services of school boys on farms during holidays! Another voice: That idea emanated from the New Plymouth High School. Mr. McLeod proceeded to adversely criticise the doings of the Efficiency Bo.ird and to envprasis. l the iiiv.ortnnec of taking immediate sti>n= in the direction indicated hy Mr. Dcr.'-e. Mr. T. C. List said that the Efficiency Board was not to blam» so much as the Government, which endowed the Board with no plenary power o . The Board and the Government, as a matter of fact, were nulling against each otb"V and often at cross' purpo?" 1 ;. In Wellington in March last the EH.-ier.ry Board addressed the master printers and newspaper proprietors, and he (the speaker) took the opportunity then to place the position of businesses affected T>v calling up the owners before the members, instancing, indeed, Air. Mcleod's own ease and suggesting that the Efficiency Board should command one of the heads of the remaining businesses in hi- trade to look-

after his interests or make provision for the carrying or. of his trade connection hv the remaining businesses, so that when he returned lie could resume business uvith a minimum,of loss. There was nothing insuperable in making and carrying out such an arrangement, but the Efficiency Board was devoid of power, and could not order anything to be done. What applied to the printing trade of the town applied to :other trade-- ami businesses. He referred to tbe position of a man in another trade who had recently been called up. 'By dint of great industry and the display of 'business acumen and enterprise he had built up a thriving business. Take him away from the helm and it was only to be expected that his trade would fall awav and be annexed by the other businesses in the same line. There iwas no equality of sacrifice about that, and means should and could be devised whereby ids interests could be conserved, to some extent' at least.' The whole responsibility for the present unsatisfactory condition of tilings rested with the Government, not with the Efficiency Board, who had shown a woeful lack of statesmanship, foresight and imagination from the inception of the war, and seeniinglv were content to continue their policy of iaisse/. fairc. The only i.vay'to bring the Government to a realisation of its duty was to bring matter? like, this forcibly under its attention. Mr K. J. Deare then moved: ''That the. Government be requested to state what action they propose taking for the protection of businesses and undertakings of consequence throughout the country, f.vhicli are certain to be prejudicially affected if not entirely ruined through the owners and controllers being called up." . Seconded by Mr. McLeod and carried unanimously. LONGER XOTICE. Mr. A. C. Downs thought the Government should lie urged to hold the ballot? for the Second Division as early as possible, so as to give reservists ample time, at least three months, in which to arrange their business affairs. Ho moved a resolution in that direction. He pointed out that unless time were given many employers would be placed in an awkward position. He instanced the case of a local employer, three of whose hands were in the same class. If they were called up together it would place the employer in a very awkward position. ' Mr "j. Clarke saw no reason why the Government should not ballot the'whole of one class. Instead of holding three ballots one month after each other they could 'ballot for the. three i(fiintorcc■ments on the one day. This would define tlio time each reservist would be called up, and then medical examination could be made, after which the reservist could make his business arrangements.

OfWr speakers strewed the neod for m'ediea'ijy examining reservists as early as possible, so that they could know •tlu-ir fate and make their business arransnmnnts accordingly. sir. T. C. List pointed out that this hardly practicable, because a Man might be unfit- for service one month and a month or two afterwards be quite lit. Uesides the standard of fitness was constantly. ehiin?in:r. Indifferent, eyesight, for instance, was a bar not long ago; it was not so now, only in special eases. The nlamiard of iitness. it had to lie remembered, was not settled by Xou Zealand authorities; it was an Imperial matter. After further discussion Mr. Down's motion was unanimously carried.