EFFICIENCY BOARD'S REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1917, Page 5

EFFICIENCY BOARD'S REPORT.

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICE, DILUTION OF LABOR; RACING CONFINED TO HOLIDAYS. LIQUOR PROPOSALS By Telegraph.—Prea« Association. Wellington, Last Night.

The report by the Efficiency Board lias been presented to the House. It recommends legislation for tho direction and control of all persons. The Board has, so far, assisted in carrying on soldiers' farms and businesses by private arrangement, but some other method must bo adopted when tho Second Division is called up. The Board considers that national industrial service must bo considered, but not that labor should be corrupted by private profit. Legislation should be brought in over-riding Arbitration Court awards to enable labor to be diluteH, so that the services of unskilled persons, male or female, who volunteer can be utilised in the iplace of men going to the front, and that special wages readjustment boards should be formed to regulate the wages of such persons. The Board reports it has advised the Minister of Customs that in view of the shortago of ship* to carry supplies, the Minister should irfform newspaper proprietors that all serial and other matter whics is not of daily interest should be deleted, with a view to reducing the size of, if not entirely abolishing, tho, issue of supplements. The Board was further of opinion that in many cases newspapers could be combined with great advantage to the Dominion. Horse racing should be confined to ptiblic holidays, and after 2 p.m. on the regular weekly half-holiday. Tlw Board recommends that, while convinced it would be beneficial to the nation and conductive to the 'well-being oC tho people, if the importation, manufacture, and salo of liquor were prohibited, y«t it recognises that the quj:sition of national prohibition is one that 'nhould ba submitted to the people; therefore tho Board recommends legislation enabling tho issue to bo submitted to tho popular vote at the earliest possiblo moment, Qn the basis of immediate prohibiJipn, with reasonable compensation to ■Oho interests affected. Whether the Government adapted this recommendation or not, early legislation should be passei limiting hours of sale and profiling for the observance of public holidays, liquor only to be sold for consumption on the premises, packet and conditional licences to be abolished and the strength of spirits reducgj* - - ' -