SECOND DIVISION MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION MEN.

I BUSINESS MEN'S VIEWS. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday the president (Mr. R. Burns) referred to the necessity of the provision of some other system more satisfactory than lias hitherto been the case for the calling up of men of the Second Division. Mr. Anderson was of opinion that if the commercial community did not act th. re was every likelihood that the men of the .Second Division would be called up in the same old haphazard way as the First. Some means should be thought out whereby those who were least essential to tlie commerce and industry of the country should be the first to go.

The chairman said if the business really meant the last man in the country we would have to go for it. There was no question about that, but there was another possibility—that at the present time or in time to come the men that the ships lake Home from New Zealand i might be less valuable to the Motherland 1 than the goods the ships could carry. The mi-ii should certainly be selected ac- ! cording as their work was more or less essential to the industries aud the trade of the country. Mr. Peacock: A selection may jjive offence. The chairman: Any selection will be open to some criticism. .Mr. Roberton: The Government has made s,„ne big blunders in calling up the First Division, ami they should not be repeated in calling up tiie Second. Mr. Macky suggested that business firms could arrange schedules of their employee.-, ranking each man in accordance with the respective importance of his work. • It was further pointed cut that, although the most satisfactory system nf using the ballot would be one that called upon the most, essential 111211 last, in the opinion of several members there had been no disposition so far on the part of the Covernment to do this. After the question had been discussed 'at great length, Messrs. Burns, Anderson and Ferguson were appointed a committee to confer with the National Efficiency Board on the subject.

MR. G-UNSOWS COMMENT. WILL WELCOME ADVICE. The Chamber of Commerce discussion was briefly referred to by Mr. J. H. Gunson, local member of the National Ktlicicnry Board, in an interview this morning. "'On the Gth inst.," said Mr. Gunson. "the Board handed to the Government an extended classification of over 400 industries and occupations, grouped under the four headings: 'Most essential.' "essential,' 'partly essential,' and 'non-essential.' The Board spent a very considerable time in considering the classification, which includes all the more extensive industries, together with a great many more. It must follow, on commonsense grounds, that the less essential men in any industry will be taken before those men whose removal j would imperil the very existence of the industry concerned. 1 understand that, the Chamber of Commerce has appointed a sub-committee to deal with the matter, and 1 shall be very glad to give this committee all the information 1 have; also to make use of any advice they may na.e to otter for the assistance and guidance of the Board. The Board wants all the information it can get. aud will welcome assistance from such a responsible body as the Auckland Chamber of Commerce."