NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16408, 31 December 1918, Page 4

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

CANTERBURY COMMISSIONERS ACTIVITIES IN. 1918. . Tho National Efficiency Board, of which Mr J. A. Frostick is Commissioner for the Canterbury Military District, has had a strenuous year, now fortunately relieved somewhat by tho cessation of recruiting. Tho organisation, which covers tho territory between the "Waitaki , and Cook Strait, comprises, 122 different committees, with a''total membership of 481, all voluntary workers. These committees cover all sections of industries, professions, and commcrco in town and country, and have been extensively utilised throughout tho year in advising the Commissioner on matters directly arising out of the war, and in the. preparation of matter likely to bo required during the important period when tho forces are being returned to their civil occupations, also upon problems likely to assist the _ country in mooting the heavy liabilities incurred through the war. During last harvest, through tho Agricultural and Pastoral Committees, there was compiled a coinpleto list of harvesting requirements in men and boys, and those were organised in case they wero required, but, probably duo to tho light harvest, very little advantage was taken of tho organisation'. It is not anticipated that anything of this nature will be repeated for tho coming harvest. • A register of persons offering assistance, both voluntary and for recompense, was kept, and advantage taken oF same, several returned soldiers having been found suitablo employment..

Amongst the whole of the committers advice was obtained as to the essential nature of the occupation of considerably over ICKJO reservists, and recommendations. based thereo.w, furnished to the Military Service Boards, to assist. a proper determination of the relative yaluo of tho reservists in civjl and military occupation. The organisation was also useful for j-eporting upon reservists, who wero granted exemption provided thev did certain essential work, and was also of service in considering reports regardiri/v financial assistance to soldiers.

The trustees sot iin for tho management of soldiers' farms and businesses were, only in a very few eases culled unoii to exorcise their powers of supervision. etc.. hut were" largely instrumental in bringing about satisfactory arrangements privately. Since the, no - ,vol's were conferred upon the "Hoard in tho regulations regarding soldiers' businesses (gazetted IHst June, 1P1S) some businesses were dealt with. The necessity for these regulations, had the war continue-!, was very evident, as at the rlato of the armistice rmjto p. large number of potential soldiers were owners of businesses which would have required the powers of tho regulations in order to have conserved their businesses against total loss. As it was, there were some businesses brought under the regulations in some form or another, and it was satisfactory to noticc that those left behind Were, generally speaking, -pleased that under these re-o-nlntions it was compulsory upon all likely to profit by a* soldier's absence, to bo liable to contribute. Apart from bringing in the full powers of the regulation."! many business people, upon having the matter laid before them by Ihe Board, assisted in preventing 'undue loss falling upon a soldier. _ j Ail the committees are still active, ond the organisation is being now used for ad vice - as to applications for rcpatrintion of soldiers out of their turn, alreadv some 120 applications having/ bc«n dealt with. The nersounol of the committees has '■■"en w'thout- change- except from death (B),'and gone on service (G\ A largo, amount of important work has bciii accomplished outside of committees, the) nrincipal being the taking of evidenced in connexion with th« education question: no fewer thon 70 individuals and organisations - tendered evidence in thcCantcrbury di.strict;. . This evidence, together with that- taken throughout the Wellington. Auckland, and Otago districts, is being carefully gone through, condensed, and weighed by a special committee appointed br reason of tho abilil v and comnetcnce of the individual members for this work. _ Tho forogoi"g does include the work of the National Efficiency Board in its advisory capacity to Government. In this respect work for the year was contained in tho Board's annual report, handed to the Prime Minister on October I.Bth last. Eighty-one subjects were dealt witb in this report, in addition to five appendices. No doubt in the early part of next session the text'of the renorfc will be available to 'Parliament, and to the public, but in the meantime, it- is not within tho power of the Board to publicly announce cither the subjects dealt with or the reports made thereon.