NATIONAL EFFICIENCY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3194, 19 September 1917, Page 4

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY LEAGUE

■'JOSHED AT CONFERENCE OF : BUSINESS MEN. A. conference of business men with large representation from the centies and many of the provincial towns eat in Wellington yesterday afternoon and evening. The primary Object of the conferenco was the sir. o clock closing campaign, arranging for the depu. tation to the Prime Minister, and to decide the attitude to be adopted should Parliament finally pass tho I.iquor Restriction Bill with any other hour than six inserted. The conference carried the' following resolutions unanimously:— "That this meeting resolves itself into a league, to be called 'The National Efficiency League, for the purpose of figuring national efficiency, including National Prohibition of the liquor traffic 111 tho event of the sis! o'clock closing being rejected by Parliament/' "That this meeting, fliorougnly "pTesentative of tho commercial community of the Dominion, views with alarm the possibility of the Dominion at this critical time losing the valuable services of the present National Efficiency Commissioners, who, by their patriotic.service, proved ability, and impartiality have won the confidonce of the country. It is of the highest national imporwmce that tho board should continue its labours without hindrance either by i*>hticians of vested interests, and it should receive the sympathetic assistance of the Government as a whole and the Ministers individually. Not only should the Government ensure the retention of the present members of the board, but it should follow the lead of the British Prime Minister and call to its aid business men of integrity and capacity to assist in solving (apart from all but national considerations) the many vital questions which have to be oapably dealt with during and after the war,_ if disaster is to bo avoided. That this resolution "be placed before tlio Prime Minister, and that this meeting form a deputation to Mr. Ferguson and his colleagues urging them to reconsider their resignations, should the Government request them to do so."