The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1917. THE NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1917. THE NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD

The news of the resignation of the National Efficiency Board members should not surprise ' anyone in the Dominion. The wonder is that they have continued in office so long. That they have done so affords striking testimony to their patriotism in zealously doing their best to promote national efficiency and the organisation of the nation for war. It was obvious from the outset that the members of the board were placed in a most unsatisfactory position, their duties being confined to making inquiries and forwarding recommendations to the Government, but with a total absence of power. In a commendable spirit of self sacrifice they put aside their own business and private affairs in order, as they hoped, to be of real service to the country, only to find their time and efforts wasted, and all their hard work of no avail, for, to the shame of the Government be it said, in scarcely one instance has the Government acted oi. the advice of the board. . No self-respect-ing business men such as those who formed the National Efficiency Board, however ardent their patriotism might be, could be expected to endure such contemptuous treatment by Ministers. The country could certainly have greatly "benefited by the work of this board, had its recommendations been given a fair trial. We can now only marvel that the board was set up, except as a buffer between the Government and the people. The members are entitled to the warmest thanks and sympathy of the community for they have striven hard to be of service—and without pay—and it is a grave reflection on the National Government that they should have so ignored the board's recommendations aa to make, it impossible for the members to continue their work under present conditions. The strictures that are being made on the Government in Parliament indicate the growing feeling against the way in which the affairs of the country are being carried out. The spirit of military methods appears to be dominating Ministers, and this will hinder rather than promote the putting forth of our best efforts to win the war.