MAN WITH MANY DUTIES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25309, 8 October 1947, Page 8

MAN WITH MANY DUTIES

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, October 7. Whether, in spite of his unquestioned ability, the Secfetary of the Treasury (Mr B. C, Ashwin) could do justice to his own important job, with ■its responsibilities to Parliament, as [well as various other jobs with which [he was from time to time entrusted, .was questioned by Mr J. N. Massey | (Opposition, Franklin) during discussion of the Estimates to-day. Mr Massey and other members of the Opposition, including Mr W. A. I Sheat (Opposition, Patea), said that, as ■well as being Secretary of the Treasury, the same official had to officiate ■as a director of various concerns, in- , eluding the Reserve Bank, had to be i a member of the Dairy Marketing ' Commission, and occasionally had to represent the Government overseas. The Minister of Finance (Mr W. ■ Nash) said that the salary of the Sedjretary of the Treasury was £l9OO a ‘year, plus £l5O a year as a director of ’the Reserve Bank, and he knew of , no other civil servant so worthy of • such a salary. The secretary received 1 no extra money for his membership of various committees and organisations. Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera): The £2OOO will be a lot less by the time Mr Nash finishes with it.