THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1917, Page 3

THE SECOND DIVISION.

; CALLING-UP PROBLEMS. ; VIEWS OF BUSINESS MEN. Representatives of the Wellington In- - dustrial Association, the New Zealand : Employers' Federation, and the Weli liij£tpn Chamber of Commerce, hsive considered matters likely to arise out of the - calling up of the Second Division, and 1 have laid their views before the Minisi ter of Defence. The following statement covers their views:— u It is recognised that the calling up of 3 the Second Division will be a serious . matter to the business community, and t inevitably result in diminution of the 1 producing capacity of the Dominion. It is further realised that owing to the progress of New Zealand during the last fifteen years, the business of the Dominion (both farming and commercial) is 0 largely under the Second Division classi- !• fication. e Members of bodies represented are in- ., terosted both as Second Division men and * employers of Second Division men, and t they are anxious to assist the Govern- [ ment through their organisations to do everything that will reduce to the minip mum the difficulties which inevitably will arise. '.' It is suggested that, if possible, the * Defence Department should expedite the , examination of Second Reservist classes at least one month, and that medical boards should be directed to take into , consideration (though, they should not necessarily follow) any private medical reports from practitioners of recognised " standing produced by reservists at their ' examination. . It is recognised that most men can easily satisfy themselves whether they i are fit or unfit, and that difficulties will arise chiefly in the doubtful eases. With ' regard to the latter, employers will be recommended to at once have them examined by their own medical men, without expense to the Government, so as to ascertain their exact position, and enable the men themselves to put the medical board examining them in full possesion of all facts. This would assist in preventing men being sent into camp who would speedily breakdown, and obviate possible expense to the Government and private loss to the individual in such cases. It has to be realised that many young , business men will be unable to get substitutes to carry on their businesses . from among men over forty-five years of , age, and that they will have to look to ', Second Division men, possibly in the . same class as themselves, but who are ! medically unfit, to carry on their businesses for them. Briefly, the view of the executives of \ the above associations is that they rea!- \ iso that the Second Division men who are eligible will readily respond, and \ they are desirous through their organisa--1 tions of assisting the Government to overcome the difficulties which will arise ; and of reducing to a minimum the dislocation of business. 1 '-"— :