NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Mataura Ensign, 18 April 1917, Page 6

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

GORE BOROUGH REPORT. The National Efficiency Board recently wrote asking information from the Gore Borough Council concerning its municipal works, for estimates of what labor could be reloased by a reduction of same, and for suggestions as to what extent wartime economy could be effected in the meantime. In answer to this communication the Council requested a committee consisting of the Works Committee with the addition of the town clerk a report and submit it to the Council. At Monday night's meeting the report was read by Mr F. Young (to\vn clerk J and adopted. It runs as follows: With reference to the circular dated March-'l2, 1917, from the National Efficiency Board,' Wellingtons, upon which 1 was requested by the Works Committee to submit a report to the Council, 1 have the honor to submit the follow l ing: (a) With regard to works of maintenance, upkeep and repairs.—The staffs maintained by the Council in its electric light and streets departments are at present at a minimum strength, one man lrom each having been' called up for military service and their places not filled. The electric light staff at present "-consists of the engineer, one line and repairs man and three switchboard attendants; and tlie outdoor streets staff of one foreman, three surfacemen and one driver. It is not possible to further reduce these Raft's without impairing the efficiency of the service; in fact, it is taking them all Elieir time'at present to keep abreast i of normal work.

(b) New works iu progress.—There are at present no new works in progress. '',..-' ;. ;> : . ;/.' : (c) Proposals for new .works-., —The only works of importance projected are those of drainage, water' supply and electric, light for West Ward. The detailed estimates and other data for carrying 7 out the work are in course "of completion and will be completed as soon as possible, but/in the present state of "the" market/for material and with labor scarce it Would be ill-advised- 1 to attempt; to carry out ,' the actual work,,, though' the 'preliminary details will be in hand and available when the war is over and a return'to normal conditions is probable." With regard to the proposal that women could .be employed to carry out surfacemen's wprk, I think that, tins is a fanciful theory and of no practical value.', .'■'•'. - /' ■■ ' '■■■':.■„.> i-append a list of the Council's employees and their various occupations: i town clerk and -"engineer, Second Division; L assistant clerk, First Division,- 1 junior clerk; under a,ge; 1 electrical engineer, First Division; 1 lineman, First Division; 3 switch attendants (working shifts), under age; ,1 ranger and collector, Second Division; 1 foreman of works, Second Division; 1 surfaceman, Second Division; 2 surfacemen, over age;l carter, over age; 1 abattoirs manager, over age; 1 gardener, Second Division;:! sexton, over age.