15

H.—43

Rejected, Men in the First Division. The Board also urged upon the Government that those men who had volunteered for military service and had been rejected by the medical authorities, and had subsequently entered into marriage or business obligations, should not. be regarded as belonging to the First Division, but should be transferred to the Second Division. Substitution for Military Service. The Board recommended the Government, to consider whether substitution might not, under proper conditions, be permitted in the case of a balloted man where another member of the family was willing and anxious to take his place, and where the interests of the industries of the Dominion would be conserved by the retention of the balloted man in. his present occupation. Territorial Camps. The Board had considerable correspondence with the Government on the question of the suspension of Territorial camps during the war. The Commissioners have had interviews with the military authorities regarding this subject, and notwithstanding the decision of the experts, from evidence derived from all parts of the Dominion they are still of opinion that much unnecessary interference with the businesses and industries of the Dominion has resulted during the past season through the continuance of these camps. As the result, of the representations made by the Board, instructions were given that where a Commissioner certified that an individual called up for Territorial training was required in an essential industry, temporary exemption should be granted for a period not exceeding a month. Whilst realizing that this concession was of material benefit, the Commissioners trust that some method will be devised by which, should the war unfortunately continue into the next training season, the training-camps may be temporarily suspended. The shortage of men, caused by the war, in essential industries is becoming acute. The Board believes that considerable harm is being done to the system of Territorial training through the attempted continuance, at the present time of stress, of the training conditions which were suitable in times of peace. Old-age Pensioners. The Board directed attention to the position of old-age pensioners, and pointed out that under the existing system such people are debarred from adding to their incomes because their earnings would be considered at. the next following assessment in connection with the reduction of their pension scale. It was suggested to the Government that as the labour of these pensioners could be turned to account in these difficult times, special concessions should be made. The Commissioners are of opinion that this matter should be dealt with by the Government and Parliament. Retention of Experts in the Dominion. Tho attention of the Government was directed to the risk which exists if experts in any industry are permitted under present conditions to leave the Dominion, and the Board was pleased to learn that this matter has received the attention of the Government, and that such experts would not be allowed to leave New Zealand. Tuition and Initial Work for Development of Industries. Teaching of Boot and Shoe Industry. The Board reported adversely to the Government upon a proposal to expend a considerable sum of money in connection with the installation of a complete plant of machines with a view to the technical teaching of boot and shoe making in one of the cities of the Dominion. The Board is of opinion that the best and most effective method of tuition is that practical instruction should be given in the factories, and they are confirmed in this by an offer which has been recently made by some of the boot and shoe manufacturers in Wellington, to provide practical instruction to be given in their workshops in conjunction with theoretical classes conducted at the Technical School. Technical and, Practical Instruction in the Industries. In the opinion of the Board the principle of practical instruction in the workshops may be applied to the teaching of many of the operations which are now attempted to be taught in the technical schools. The Board believes that the best method of technical instruction is by carryingout only theoretical instruction in the technical colleges, accompanied by practical work in the factories. Waste Products and New Industries. The matters herein referred to represent the principal conclusions of the Board so far arrived at, but there are other important questions to which the Board has devoted considerable attention and which are still the subject of inquiry. From the information contained in this report and its appendices it will be seen that the Board's inquiries have covered considerable ground in many directions, and information is now being collected with regard to the economy of labour, or production, and of distribution, and the most economical manner of dealing with raw and waste products, with the object of improving and establishing the industries of the Dominion. In conection with this matter an attempt is being made to ascertain what waste exists in the various processes of manufacture, and how investigations can be made with a view to the conversion of such waste into marketable articles.