INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1917, Page 3

INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS.

THE EFFICIENCY BOARD'S CLASSIFICATION.' GUIDANCE FOR MILITARY _ A classification of industries, professions, and occupations, and of the workers employed therein, has been issued for the guidance of military service boards, employers, and others concerned. The classification was drafted originally by the National Efficiency Board, and amended and np'proved by the Government. It fills a small volume of some eighty pages, and deals with almost all occupations in which men of military age are or may be empolyed. (a) Most essential, (b) Essential. (e) Partially essential, (d) Non-essential.

The next step was to classify workers within their industries according to their importance in the conduct of those industries. For this purpose index numbers, Ito 0, have been used. The gradings are as follow:

(1) An expert necessary for the conduct of the industry, (2) Operation that can be performed only by an report or specialist—male. (3) Operation that, can be performed only by an expert cr specialist—female. (4) Operation that can be performed by substituted labour, either male or female.

(5) Operation, which, provided reasonable time is given for training, could be formed by substituted labor, which must be male labor.

(0) Operation which could be performed by female labor, provided reasonable time was giveri for training.

Substituted labor means such labor as is not usually employed in the particular branch of the industry, profession, or occupation. Tho Government suggests, in an introductory note, that in considering the application of an individual for exemption or ether consideration, the military service board should first ascertain' from the classification of industries whether the reservist is engaged in work that is "most essential," "essential," "partial!;, essential," or "non-essential." Then the board can consult the schedule and ascertain to what extent the man, in the opinion of the Efficiency Board, is necessary for the conduct of the business. For instance, under Schedule A (most essential) the heading "Sheep-raising" covers the occupation "shepherd, high country." This shepherd is classed No. 1, that is, an expert necessary for the conduct of the industry. Other shep. herds are classified No. 5, showing that in the opinion' of the Efficiency Board their work could be performed by substituted mala labor provided reasonable time were allowed for training. The operation of the classification may be shown by quoting one of the completed classes in Schedule A (most essential) : Agriculture, cattle-raising, dairying, sheep-raising.

Index Operator. number. Working owner ■.-., l Working manager 1 Ploughman, competent to handle any class of farm implement, look after teams, and experienced harvest hand . 1 Ploughman, otljer 5 Fencer, ditcher ........... 5 Shepherd, high country .', r. .. 1 Shepherd, other , 5 Milker .- i ■Harvester, being-ploughman ....... 1 Harvester, other 5 Shearing-machine expert 1 (Shearer, hand or machine ......... 5 Stockman '. 5