SOLDIERS' BUSINESSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1918, Page 2

SOLDIERS' BUSINESSES.

ERQBLEM CM? OAJLUED U2P MEN.. Wellington ,August 18. The Government intends s'liortly to firing into operation some very thoroughgoing regulations which mark its earnest desire to get rid of one of the worst features of tlio calling up of men of the Second Division for active service. Sot more than 20 per cent of these men are passed fit, leaving 70 out of every 100 to go back into civilian life without further responsibility for any special sacrifice in carrying on the war. The ballot has for some months been drawing on a class of reservists from which is drawn the men who have positions of well-paid responsibility, and those who are experienced and enterprising enough to run their own businesses. If they are classed fit, the unfit man, who remains behind, 'lias fewer competitors in 'business, whilf the man who gives up his civilian activity d"or military service is forced in most cases to make a serious financial sacrifice. Efforts have been made by the National Efficiency Board to deal with this problem, and no doubt a fair amount of success has been achieved with farms, under the direction and assistance of the Beards of Trustees. But the small town business has presented a more difficult problem which the new regulations intend to deal with. Tt is understood that tlley aim at preventing the growth of competition against an absent man's business, and provide for a system under which those in. the same occupation who remain behind will take the responsibility for keeping alive the of the man who has had to temporariy desert it for the higher BoeyiceoElris ©rantry.