THE EFFICIENCY BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16621, 18 August 1917, Page 6

THE EFFICIENCY BOARD.

QUESTION OF RESIGNATION,S' CONFERENCE WITH PREMIER, V NO DECISION REACHED. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON-. Friday. A conference between the Prime 'Mini's, ter and the members of the National Efficiency Board took place today. The whole position was discussed at considerable length in a frank and friendly way, but no definite understanding was arrived at. The members of the boar) gave expression to their dissatisfactiox owing to the manner in which their recommendations had been treated by the Government. They contended that ii would be useless for them to continue their work if the Government failed or declined to give effect to the suggestions contained in their reports. Mr. Massey assured the board that the Government recognised that they had dona much valuable work and that their recommendations had been o-iven and would be given careful consideration. He was desirous of the continuance of harmonious relations between the Government and the board, but he felt it necessary to noint out that no self-respecting Government - could allow any outside bodv to dictate its policy. It was impossible for the Cabinet to divest itself of its responsibilities. He hoped the board would en. deavour to understand the Government's point of view, and to realise that it wa3 not always possible to give effect to the board's recommendations. It cannot be said that the conference had removed the causes of friction between the Government and the board. The board did not dirnlav •any disposition to retire from the position it has taken up. and the resignation or conditional resignation has not been with, drawn. The question now was whether the board will accept the position laid down bv the Prime Minister. APPOINTMENT CRITICISED.

'* AN UNWORKABLE SYSTEM." [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON', Friday. The Efficency Board and its activities were discni sed in the House to-day bv Mr. C. J. Parr (Eden). "In the first place," he said, "we owe a debt of thanks to these men who are men of real business ability, and who have given their valuable services to this country without fee or reward. With regard to their report?; some of them are, m my opinion, valuahls and some are not. I consider that the creation of this Efficiency Board in the way it- was done was a mistake. I grant that the Government should obtain for itself the aovice of business men and the benefit of their business and organising experience in regard to carrying on the business and industry of this country, but 1 do not think the Government went the right way about getting it by setting up a board of this sortan "independent entity— give advice. The Government says that it will take or reject that advice, and that it is the only authority that can carry out the advice. This arrangement, said the speaker, must inevitably lead to friction. Mr. L M. Isitt: Why Should not tha public know what the advice was? Mr. Massey: Nothing was suppressed. Mr. Parr : That is exactly what happened. If the Government accepts a report nothing more is heard about it, but if the Government rejects it there is friction. If the Government has to accept all the reports they might as well get off the Treasury benches, and let the Efficiency . Board run the country. Supposing the Government say they decline to accept - the • report, and we find members of the board going to the press giving reasons for their report and attacking the Government policy. That is an impossible state of affairs. The system is unworkable. I cannot understand a selfrespecting Government permitting itself to be attacked for refusing to accept advice from a body set up for the purpose only of giving advice. The remedy, to my mind, is a simple one. The suggestion I make is that the Government- should do as Mr. Lloyd George has done. If tha Government needs organising experienca and ability it should appoint to the Cabinet gentlemen with this ability and experience. I am not one of those who think that this House is so barren of organising ability that the Government cannot find in it some men of ability, but if the Government thinks otherwise, let it appoints the men to the Upper House. Sir John Finlay: They can appoint) them to the Executive Council without} putting them into the Cabinet. Mr. Parr : Very well! Let them be pnti in the Executive Council. ' This is the only course that will lead to unanimity and "a proper and comfortable way of doin." things. In the interests of both the board and the Government, I think the present arrangements should be suspended and suitable men should be associated with the Government in this particular work of organising the country in the next veara of the war."