State Agriculture Head’s Position

Press, Volume C, Issue 29527, 31 May 1961, Page 12

State Agriculture Head’s Position

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, May 30. Farmers were perturbed to realise that the leadership of the Department of Agriculture was subject to the Public Service system of advancement by seniority and appeal, said the provincial president of Waikato Federated Farmers (Mr Ralph Woolerton) in his report to the annual conference in Hamilton. “The position is at such profound importance, not only to the welfare of farming but to the whole national welfare, that every thinking farmer must agree that the position should go to the best man available,” said Mr Woolerton. “This man is not necessarily the most senior member of the department. He should not be a man with but two years or so or service left before retirement. We have seen the upsetting angle of this before. “Even if it is necessary to advance a junior staff member or to bring in someone from outside the service,” said Mr Woolerton, “this should be done in the interests of the nation.” During the discussion of Mr Woolerton's report. Mr F. C. Johnstone emphasised the importance of taking away from the Public Service Commission the appointment of a Director-General of Agriculture. This was the most important position in New Zealand, as it entailed the directors of the progress of the country’s primary industry, said Mr Johnstone. It was particularly important that the conference should take up the matter. Resolution The following resolution, suggested by Mr Johnstone and moved by Mr A. W. Moore, was carried unanimously:—

“Because of the basic importance of the agricultural industry to the economy of New Zealand, and because of the key role of the Department of Agriculture to this industry, this meeting of Waikato Federated Farmers is deeply concerned at the present uncertainty surrounding the position of leadership of this department. It would appear that the time has arrived when elevation to the Director-Generalship should not be governed by the rules of procedure and seniority of the Public Service Commission. “Agriculture needs the best leadership it can get and to make this possible this meeting recommends to the Government that the position of Director-General of Agriculture be placed under Cabinet control, as has already been done with other important departments of state.”