The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1917. HOW NOT TO OBTAIN EFFICIENCY?

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1917. HOW NOT TO OBTAIN EFFICIENCY?

When it is considered that in this great crisis national efficiency is the one dominant factor in success, both as regards the conduct of the war and the equally important duty of production, of foodstuffs, it is surprising that such a farce should have been played as to appoint a number of our leading business men to give up their time and talents in order to secure national efficiency and then t,o be told that the Government was not going to be dictated to as to what should or should no be done to bring about the object for which the National Efficiency Board was appointed!. It seems incredible that our political leaders should havo taken up the absurd attitude which has characterised the Government over this matter. No wonder the members of the Board resigned, for no self-respecting men could put up with such treatment as they received. The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward have now made up their minds to foist themselves on this Board under a proposed reconstruction scheme. The very essence of the utility of such a board depends / on its V "rig absolutely non-political, and in its ptiionnel .being composed of broadnunded expert business men. If the Government did not want facts and advice, why was the Board appointed? From th,o outset of the war the need for a strong but reasonable programme for the attainment of national efficiency has been an urgent need. We are now in the fourth year of the war, and the need has become increasingly urgent, but the Government is still impregnated with "taihoa." Is it ignorance or obstinacy that blocks tho way? Perhaps a mixture of the two. The (Prime Ministers of BiU tain and Canada., as well as the Presi-j dent of the .United States, have wisely obtained tho aid and advice of ackpowlodged experts, hence the. strides made in solving the immense .problems that the war has brought into existence. These statesmen are not ashamed to admit that they needed guidance on many matters outside the range of politics, font it has been reserved for the New 'Zealand Government to .practically ignore there great and wise examples. Far it be even at this late stage to create a new deparment <jf the State composed of experts, with a nonpolitical Minister at its head, but cloth- j ed with official power. It is obvious that none of the .present Ministers have either tho time or 'the special qualifications required for the work in question, even if "'it were adyisablo for them to take part therein, which it is not. The course proposed to bo taken by the Government is utterly indefensible, and it is equally certain that some action should be taken that will not dull patriotism. Tho least the Government should have dono was to sift the Board's facts and recommendations and evolved some acceptable working scheme, but so far matters remain as they wero and there is no organisation of national man and woman power to help in winning the war. Our manhood has been mobilised for active service against the enemy, and the best and most .practical brains of the country can in like manner be organised for securing national efficiency. There are large numbers of C2 men who could usefully bo employed,, especially tradesmen, in the country's service and save thousands of pounds, and in almost every direction economies could foe effected and efficiency promoted by a well aranged scheme of national service, but Ministers bar the way. It used to be New Zealand's proud boast that she was in tho van of progress, but now the crucial test has been applied it is found she is hugging the rear.