EFFICIENCY BOARD.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13797, 6 February 1917, Page 1

EFFICIENCY BOARD.

FIRST MEETING'IN WELLINGTON. • The Industrial Efficiency Board met in ' Wellington on- r Friday.- and began the 'very important work that, it has. undertaken at the request/of the Government. { The member" of itlie boar], whose appointment was. mentioned ifcently by tlie Acting-Piime Minister (thp Hon, James Allen) arc four of New Zealand's most' prominent business men, their urines being . . Mr AV. Ferguson, -Wellington.' , Mr XH. (hinsoii,'.Auckland. ■ Mr .1, A. Frostick; Ghivslchurch. MrW. O. Hunt, Invcrca: gill, The first business of .tlie board is to Consider certain proposals recently placed before Cabinet by the Hon, James Allen for the organisation of the manpower of the Dominion, the protection of essential industries, and the development of new industries with a view to after-the-war trade competition. ; The proposals, which are understood to involve the creation of district committees with advisory powers were considered by Cabinet, but Ministers were not- prepared to adopt them without '.further expert advice, and it was decided that they should be referred to the board. , The scheme will be returned to Cabinet with amendments or suggestions, and will then lie put into operation as speedily as possible. Tho powers and functions of the board have not yet been defined exactly; in fact, the board, like some similar bodies in the .United, Kingdom, can scarcely be said to have ofliicial existence. The members, who are serving the State without payment, have come together at thc.invitation of the ActingPrime Minister, and they are placing at the disposal of the Government their wide business experience,- and their great knowledge of industrial affairs, It may be found necessary later to'give them the powers of a Royal Commission in order .that they may take evidence and call for the production of papers. ' The Hon. James Allen stated that the work of the board would include a survey of I'ie Dominion's industries, with a view la their classification" as essential, partially essential, or non-essential; an estimation of the amount of labour required to maintain the essential industries, and consideration'of the effective utilisation and distribution of that labour; and the study of such problems as the' preservation of the businesses of men who had to join the Forces, the development of industries, the utilisation of waste products, and the increase of production. The Minister said he wished it •to be understood clearly that the members of the board were giving their very valuable services to the State on purely [patriotic grounds.

MEMBERS OF' THE BOARD. ■ Mr W. D. is a'well-known merchant of liiveroargill, who takes much interest in public nffairs, , Mr J. H. Gunson ia*at present Mayor of Auckland, and has just accepted nomination for another term. He lias been also most successful as chairman' of the Auckland' Harbour Board ,/He is connected with the graiu and'produce business in Auckland. Mr J. A, Prostick is well-known iii Ohristchurch as a keen business man, and as one.who has taken a very deep interest iu industrial mutters, and has studied tlichi deeply. Mr Prostick'is managing' director of the Kaiapoi Woollen 'Manufacturing Company, ami also a member of ithc firm of Skelton, -Prostick aiuVCoinpaiiy,;bpot manufacturers Mr Pfostiiik lias taken a prominent pari in public affairs in Cliristcliurch and is connected .with the: Employers'; Associa • tidiij tlip Industrial, Assqciatiqn, anc - other bodies. ..... Mr AViliiam Ferguson is .well knowi as one ot the foremost engineers of tlu Dominion. vFoi: many ycai'srlie was en gineef to .the Wellington.- Harbou: ; Board, and isnou cngincer s to the Wei lmgton Gas Company.

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