EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1918, Page 6

EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE.

DISCI'S'SKI) 3SY WELLINGTON CHAJIBJiIt OF COMMERCE. At the meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce the following resolution from the Xapier Chamber was submitted for endorsement:—■ "That this chamber circularise all other chambers 6f commerce in the Dominion requesting that they co-operate in urging upon the Covemmcnt the advisability of appointing a Beard of Control, in regard to all tirades, businesses, and professions, so as to put on a more equitable footing those men v*ho havj been called up for military service, especially with a view of compelling those who are left 'behind to make equal financial sacrifice with those culled up." Mr L A. Edwards said that the resolution hardly met the case as he understood it. Take the case of two men in Class Cof the Second Division—one was called up, the other was not. Who eould. adjust the difference Take a personal case—his own. He'was called up. but being two or three months over fortyfour years of age lie was turned down, though fit, and another man in the same line of business, also fit but three months younger, had to go into camp. He had to give up his business, his house, and risk life and limb whilst he (the speaker) was completely free except being liable for home service. That was manifestly unfair, but what could one do? He said, aa he had said before, that the whole of the man strength of the Dominion should | have been enlisted for national service on the same day that conscription was enforced. Then" there would have been work for everyone to do. A scheme should have been evolved to utilise the services of everyone for essential work, btit no such scheme was formulated or even attempted, and so inequalities existed. A great deal of labor and money would have 'been saved had the Government taken the matter in hand, and there would have been more equality of sacrifice. He did not see, however, how they were ever going to bring about equality of financial sacrifice. He did not, think that was a practical suggestion. The president (MV C. M. Luke) said that he understood that the National Efficiency Board had an idea of poolino the interests tjf those in certain classes of trade, so that the absentees would not suffer, or would suffer as little as possible. r

Mr A. L. Hunt mentioned that committees had been set up to act with the Efficiency Board, and he had been appointed to one of them, but for certain' reasons had retired.

Mr Edwards said that he would like Jo help the man called up as much as Jay m his power, but being in the same -ino of business how could he go in and help in the management of a" business that competed with his own? It was impossible.

Mr \\. Cotton said his two brother* who were in a big way in \ e , 90n as fruit-growers, had both passed Fit A and had to go*ito camp on October IG. They had asked him to ascertain what, they 'were to do—were tliev to carry on as usual, or what? There seemed to bo no one to tell or advise them what tc do. One of them had applied to the Finanoitl Assistance Board for £350 a year (presumably as compensation for the loss of his business), but without result Others in the line might be prepared to assist him, but to allow thein to go into his affairs was a very ticklish business He thought that in such cases the Government should take over the business and pay compensation. Jlr Hunt said the resolution was rather vague. It was no use going into individual instances; the matter had to

be gone into broadly and seriously. When cases did crop up such as had been mentioned, and were referred to the National Efficiency Board, the board referred the cases to one of the committees most closely in touch with the business concerned, and they went thoroughly into the matter. They asked the owner whether there was any friend or relative whom he would like, to nominate , as trustee, and if so he was allowed to control the business under the guidance of the committee. His choice was a wide one—it was anyone he eared to nominate. It wa s not supposed that such an arrangement was as satisfactory as if the owner were in charge—a man's business must always suffer to some extent if he went away. He did not know how they could get equality of sacrifice even were controlled by a board The only suggestion lie could make waa toy way of a graduated income that was the only way of getting at it. Then there were the companies They went on only subject to changes of staff h-efe and there, but with many of them no great changes took place-nso different Esf with the s!ng,e proprietar * ' agree,i with Mr Hunt that the subject was due that they could notvmwhgtoly. Here was a chaW for the Ws of the chamber to see if they couU not evolve a workable scheme or submit suggestions to that end whMi would be of some practical use. Ho thought it was impossible to arrive at any equality of financial saerifiee-ther> were men who mu?t make more sacrifice than others. He suited that the question bo referred to the executive for a report. This wtaagrt'ea fe. ""'"'