NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 5

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

OPERATIONS IN CANTERBURY.

MUSTERING IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.

Mr J. A.' Frostick, Efficiency Com* missioner for Canterbury, has issued a circular to sheep-owners dealing with mustering m the high country of the province.

Mr Frostick states that expert musterers for high country work are inostJ essential, and thai; a sufficient number must be retained in the country to perform this work, for which - only thoroughly trained men can be employed. "No doubt," he says, " many of these would prefer, as a, matter of national duty, not to appeal for exemption, hut their work being so essential to national production and for military requirements, it may be necessary in all cases where such men drawn in the ballot elect, not to appeal that employers should ask for their exemption, from military service, in order that tha full production of wool may be assured. It is therefore requested that all sheepowners in mountainous country throughout the Canterbury military district should supply me forthwith with the names and addresses of aIU musterers and hill shepherds who ars now working for them, and, where possible, the names and addresses of ex* perienced musterers who have been em<ployed by them during recent years, and who are within the military age, but who are not now working as musterers. The information would ena.ble the Mili« tary Service Board to know that these men are expert musterers and that their work is essential." The circular continues:—" In view or the fact that so many men of this class are already on active service, and that la-st .season in many districts it became very difficult to muster sheep or* the back blocks, it is necessary that sheep owners should, for the coming season, co-operate in the work of mustering, so that, whilst pi-oviding for a sufficient number of experienced men, distributed throughout the Canterbury military district, no more m ; en may be retained, than are absolutely necessary to muster the sheep on the high country, and so release every man possible for military sen-ice. "In'order that this work may be efficiently and speedily put into operation the following gentlemen have be-on approached:—Mr Bernard Tripp, Glen-iti. Timaru; Mr Harry Little, Woodgrove, Hawarden ; and Mr David Manson. St Helen's Station, Hanmer. They have kindly consented to give voluntary assistance to the commissioner in organising this most important work for the whole of the Canterbury military district. In addition to tho duty of organising, they have consented to assist the commissioner in all cases of appeals relating ito musterers. referred to the National Efficiency Board by the Military Service Board for report. I shall,' therefore, feel obliged, if you will give this matter your im< mediate attention and leit me have youi replv not later than Saturday, August 4. 'The notice is short, but, in you? own interests, and in the interests of the industry, I trust that you will makf an effort to see that your reply is ii* not later (than the date specified."