EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 14, 16 July 1918, Page 8

EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE

Equality of sacrifice was the theme of a discussion which took place at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. The matter was introduced by a communication from the Napier Chamber of Commerce, which aaked for the endorsement of the following resolution: —' "That this chamber circularise all other chambers of commerce in the Dominion requesting that they co-operate in urging upon the Government the advisability of appointing a Board of Control in regard to all trades, businesses, and professions, so as to put on a more equitable footing those men who have been called up for military service, especially with a view of compelling those who are left behind to make equal financial sacrifice with those called up." Several of the speakers asserted that the resolution was far too vague, and that it would not assist in righting various anomalies which were noticeable all over trie Dominion. Mr. L. A. Edwards quoted his own case. He stated that, although quite fit, ho had been rejected because he was two. or three months over 44 years of age. Another man in the same business only two or three months younger was accepted. "My business will go on; his will suffer. Is it fair? Is it just?" Mr. A. Leigh Hunt outlined the work of the Efficiency Committee, which, he said, gave sympathetic consideration to every case. However, the only remedy he could suggest was in the direction of a graduated income tax, to depend on how the business had suffered by the calling up of the principals. Then there would be the position of companies, which could keep going oven if the staff was changed frequently. The whole matter was referred to the executive for a report.

The question as to whether the secretary of the Seamen's Union should appeal for exemption from,military service of seamen or firemen who on several occasions, owing to their misconduct, delayed the departure of vessels, was raised at the sitting of the First Wellington Military Service Board to-day. Captain Walker, military representative, mentioned the matter to the boai'd when the secretary of the union was appealing on behalf of a number of members of the' union. In reply to a question asked by the Chairman, the union secretary (Mr. W. T. Young) said he thought in such a case a warning from the union would be, sufficient to stop such conduct, and achieve the object desired. Messrs. C. W. Price and Co., 60, Lambton-quay, will tell jewellery at thoir rconia, at 1.30 p.m. on Thursday, ,