EFFICIENCY BOARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9596, 28 February 1917, Page 9

EFFICIENCY BOARD

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT BY

ACTING-PREMIER,

' The [lon. Sir Jf.mca Allen (Actingi iVwc Minister) issued last night the j toliowing statement with reference to j constitution of and the work to j 1,., done, by the National Efficiency

■'i.j-day the Government agreed to ; iu . terms of appointment of the memVss r;f tho National Efficiency Board, ...d 1 hasten to give the public in..•rmation about the objects for which uoard was constituted.

-i’jjo term ‘National Efficiency’ intUcatos the general purpose, but it sum bo understood to mean national clicicacy in its fullest interpretation (Mir ii" the war and after tho war is It is very far-reaching, and demands from the board and the oryet to be created under Uic board unselfish and patriotic elfore, and this, 1 feel sure, will bo I'oadilv given. ‘ It* also demands from everyone ..yinpathy with and ready assistance to the hoard and its organisation, and 1 coaUdontiy invite tho people of i'ew Zeuiand to spare no efforts to help ■our country to profit by tlm lessons and experience of this time of trial. SERVICES GIVEN GRATUITOUSLY 1 f draw attention to the fact that the members of the board have readily given their services to Now Zeaiyiul, provision having been made to pay ’only travelling allowances ami actual locomotion expenses. I his spirit of sacrifice in the interests ol Uiu whole of our people, it is hoped, will be a stimulus promising success to the work about to he undertaken. ‘‘The members of the board are;.— William Ferguson, Esq., of Weli Jington, chairman. J. H. Guuson, Esq., Auckland. Thomas Moss, Esq., Eketahuna. J. A. Frostick, Esq., ChnstChristchurch, and W. h. Hunt, Esq., Invercargill. “Tho members will meet from time to time as a board, and in the interval individual members will be concerned with the interests of the four military districts, viz.:—Mr Gunson, Auckland; Mi Moss. Wellington, Mi Fiostick. Canterbury; and Mr Hunt, Otago and Southland. The duties of chairman will occupy most of the time of Mr Ferguson, but he will assist Mi Moss in the Wellington district. “Military districts, which comnrise areas defined by borough and county boundaries, have been selected for convenience. SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY. “The Government has agreed to constitute the members of xho board to ho jointly and severally a Commission tor the following purposes: "(1> To inquire as to what industries or occupations in New Zealand may be properly regarded as wholly or in part essential or as not essential for tho public welfare. “(2) To inquire as to what restrictions, modifications or-extensions should be adopted in or in connection with any such industry or so as to secure greater economy and. efficiency therein. “(S) To inquire as to the classes and quantity of labour necessary for the maintenance and regulation of any industry or occupation, whether essential for tiro public welfare or not. “\4) To inquire as to the classes and quantity of labour available for the maintenance and regulation of any such industry or occupation, and as to how, in respect of essential industries and occupations, such labour may best be obtained, due regard being had to the interests of other established industries and occupations. "(5) To inquire as to the advisability of employing women in suitable industries or occupations; as to the extent to which it is practicable or desirable to employ women in lieu of men; and as to what extent women are available for employment in such industries oi occupations. “(G) (a) With reference to the men employed in essential industries or occupations, or in any essentia] industry or occupation, to ascertain from time to time what proportion of such men is liable for military service, and what proportion is not so liable; with reference to the men who are liable for military service, to ascertain from time to (inie, so far as possible, the number of men who are medically unfit Tor military service, the number of men who have been exempted on appeal to a Military Service Board, and the number still Table for service, distinguishing in the last case between men in the First Division and men in the Second Division of the Reserve, .(b) To ascertain so far as possible the number and class ot men employed in partially-essential or nonessential industries, and not liable for military service, who mav be available (it required) for transfer to any essential industry or occupation.

"(7) To inquire ns to the best methods to be adopted for the employment or otherwise of persons of military age who are unfit, for military .service. “(S) To inquire as to the advisability aml best methods of organising the labour available for essential or other industries or occupations in New Zealand or in any part thereof, with a view to securing the highest efficiency with economy. “(9) To inquire as to tho use or as to the advisability of usimr any class ot machinery, tools, or appliances to any particular industry or industries, with a view to efficient and economic production.

“ilOl To inquire as to any restriction, cither organised or otherwise, that may ho alleged to exist to the detriment, of tho public welfare, in any trade, service, industry, or occupation. ■■(ID With respect to industries where the taw materials used therein are wholly or in substantial part produced in New Zealand, to inquire as to tho be-st methods to be adopted for the production and preparation of such raw materials and with respect to any raw materials not indigenous to New Zealand, to inquire as to the best methods for the treatment of such materials in Now Zealand ; ‘‘tie To inquire generally as to any matters relating to or for promoting efficiency of production:

“(13; To inquire a? to the statistics of New Zealand ami other countries, with rtspeef lo t iif* conditions of employment; iincl’iciag hours ot labour and rates of wa:;,--F, iPnd n!th re.-pect to the. output and proc.action in connection with any industry or industries; . . .... “(M; To inquire as to the oeEnabilih ol limiting or prohiniting the exportation of any materials; . “(lo) To inquire as to.hie aavisahihty of rc-tricling or prohibiting the manufacture, import, transport, sale, or u=o oi nnv article that is not c- - cn l i.i to tho public welfare; . . ... To itwuire as to the desirability of I; st rifting' or stopping the execution oi public works, whether under the control of the Government or oi any local “(17i To inquire as to the desirability of restricting or stopping any iorm qt public transit not essential to the public “(IK) To inquire as to the advisability of restricting or stopping any form ot (urui.-ernerit not essential to the public welfare; , “(Id; To iunuire as to any rules or regulations made by any employers or association ot' employers, or any workers ar association of workers, with a view to ascertaining whether such rules o i-e'ntlalions, in so far as they affect any trade, industry or occupation place any restriction detrimental to the public Afarc upon efficient and economical “(20) To inquire as to the necessity or advisability and the. best methods of carrying on or disposing of the farms. or other businesses of men engaged in military service; . ... “(21) To inquire as to the ndvisabilitj of adopting improved methods for the instruction and technical training 01 workers with a view lo securing more efficient service, and generally as to tna necessity for turther technical education and for scientific research with respect to tho maintenance, development or establishment of industries; . “(2°) To inquire as to the advisanuity of establishing new industries in New Zealand or of developing existing incmstries, whether during or after the war; “(23) To inquire as to the best inethous af insuring the employment in suitable capacities of returned soldiers; “(2-1) To inquire as to the necessity or otherwise of modifying or suspending any of the provisions of any award of the Court of Arbitration, or of any industrial agreement, or ot any rules of a trade union or other association, so as to pcimit of returned soldiers who may be partially disabled being suitably era ployed and remunerated; “(251 -To inquire a.s to what measures mav be necessary or advisable with a view to promote thrift, and to discourage luxury; , , . ~ “(26) Generally, and without restricting anv of the special powers conferred by the foregoing provisions, to inquire as to the advisability of tho exercise of any powers conferred on the Govenmi or ’the Governor-in-Council. or on (ny Minister of the Crown by the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act. 1914. and its amendments, or by. tho Mar Regulations Act, 1914, and its amendments, or by any other Act passed, cr that may be hereafter passed haying reference to the war or to conditions treated thereby: “(27) In pursuance of any such inquiry from time to time to report to and advise the Government as to any of the matters aforesaid or in any way related thereto. POWERS OF MEMBERS. “The members of the board may exorcise either separately or jointly all the powers and authorities conferred upon a commission by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908," and may summon witnesses and hear evidence accordingly. “Authority under these powers is given to examine on oath or otherwise a,s may bo allowed by law such persons as the members of the board may think capable of affording them information in the premises and to examine such documents as they may deem likely to afford them information on the subject under inquiry, and to report to the Government touching all matters wherein they may make inquiry in pursuance of their instructions. BOARD'S TERM OF OFFICE. “The board’s term of office is until revoked by Ordcr-in-Council, or until the expiration of 12 months after the termination of the war, whichever first happens. “In addition to the powers specified in tho commission the board may be called' upon by the Government from time t< time to undertake such other inquiries, and to perform such other duties as tho Government may think necessary. “I quote from the original proposals submitted to the Government in which, after referring to the loss of men during the war and the necessity to make provision to absorb into our industries the returning soldiers, many with efficiency reduced owing to wounds and sickness, I wrote, ‘lf wo are to maintain our exports, provide for the essential industries of the country, and establish new industries, it is imperative that capital should he employed to the best advantage in essential industries, and that by reorganisation and scientific training tho productiveness of labour may be increased. To do this effectively the State will require the assistance of the most capable business men in New Zealand, and it will bo necessary to give them wide administrative flowers. It is proposed to encourage voluntary effort as much as poisdilc, and it is believed that there are numbers of business men of proved abiliry, not available for military service, who are ready and willing; to devote themselves to the service of their country in this great crisis once the State has shown how their efforts may best be utilised.” VOLUNTARY EXPERT ADVISERS.

“The Government agreed to the formation of the National Efficiency Board, and to submit for tho consideration ot the members of the board the projiosals and organisation suggested. Three reports have been received from tho board. The first, on February stb, dealt to some extent with the organisation necessary to bo created to enable the board to carry out its duties, and suggested the appointment of ‘voluntary experts in particular channels of investigation in each district or sub-district, and in each industry or sub-industry.’ This proposal has been approved by the Government. Each member of” the board will nominate, through the chairman, these voluntary expert advisers for appointment by the Government, and I trust that every assistance will bo given to the members of the board in making the selection.

“The members of the board will ‘seek tho assistance and co-opcraiion of existing organisations with the view to co-ordinating the producing, manufacturing, labour, commercial, nnd distributing interests of this Dominion.’

“The first report contains many other valuable suggestions which, if quoted, would make this statement too lengthy. They will be published in duo course for" public information.

TO MANAGE SOLDIERS’ farms. “As the Government considered it imperative that immediate attention should be given to the difficulties arising under the Military Service Act through men being called up who were engaged in farming pursuits and other essential industries, tho board was

asked to consider these without delay. In the second report the board, on February ICtli, expressed the opinion ■that immediate facilities should be provided by the Government for the management of soldiers’ farms,” and they recommended that 'Boards of trustees should be appointed for particular districts, or sub-districts, as may hereinafter be provided, to advise, manage, or dispose _of soldiers' farms, or, in the case of death, to act (if required) for tile beneficiaries.’ Those Boards of Trustees are to be appointed by tho Government, and are to consist of three members, whose services should be rendered voluntarily. Tho trustees will appoint a supervisor for each farm, who must be a practical farmer, and be approved ot by the National Efficiency Board. It is intended that there shall be the formation of a trust by general agree-i ment arrived at between the soldier (fanner) and the trustees as to the lines upon which the farm is to be run. Difficulties with respect to lanotir and keeping of proper accounts and returns arc dealt with in the report.

“Somewhat similar proposals art; submitted in this second report with respect to businesses of soldiers.

PURCHASE OF SOLDIERS’ FARMS

“The second report recommended tha: a scheme should be devised under which the farms, or at the option of the Government, farms and stock, could bo purchased by the State lor utilisation for settlement purposes. Tho board were asked to propound a scheme, and did so in their third report, dated February 19 th. This report deals with the complicated problem of the possible purchase of soldiers’ farms and businesses, and as it is still under the consideration of the Government, I do not propose to deal with it in this statement.

“As soon as possible the board will consider the classification of industries into essential, partially essential, and non-essential, and the members will give earnest attention to the question of labour supply. These pressing questions having teen dealt with, the board will take into consideration the other important matters referred to in the commission.”