NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 964, 14 March 1917, Page 9

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

THE BOARD'S SUGGESTIONS. UTILISING WOMEN'S WORK. The National Efficiency Board has issued a circular to local bodies asking | hem to have reports prepared dealing wilh the question of increasing efficiency. At last night's meeting of the Fire Board the matter came forward. The circular staled that it was especially desired that the report should deal with:— (1) Works of maintenance, upkeep, and repairs; how far these could be reduced in Ihe present crisis, thereby rendering available the services of men for other purposes. (2) New works in progress:—How far they could be expedited towards completion, or to a partial completion lo warrant suspension, or whether the works could be completely postponed until after peace was declared, and generally what labour could be released. (3) New works proposed:—How far the execution could be postponed. (I) Tabulation of schemes for desirable works, so that on the conclusion of Ihe war, there may be in readiness for execution works to absorb surplus labour. The circular added that in addition lo office work, women could replace the labour of men, as was being done in Great Britain. The women of New Zealand were as a whole physically fitter for agricultural and navvying work than were Iheir sisters in the Old Countrywomen could carry out a large proportion of the duties of a country roadman, or could replace sailor men in signal stations. It was anticipated thai in many cases the wives and oilier relatives of men in the Second Division would be willing and anxious to undertake the work of the men called up, and many men who had retired from the service of a local body would again be willing to take up duty, thus releasing younger men. The chairman, Mr Holland, staled that Ihe board had no more men (ban it absolutely needed and had no works in progress. SOLDIERS' BUSINESSES. APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES. Press Association. DANNEYIRKE, March 14. Replying to a telegram from the Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce asking what was being done to conscrve the interests of business people called up under the ballot, Mr W. Ferguson, chairman of Ihe National Efficiency Board, intimated that it desires to appoint a board of trustees in each district where soldiers' businesses have to be managed. It was prepared to consider details in connection with such boards lo suit the individual circumstances of each business. Particulars of cases forwarded woidd be considered and suitable arrangements made.