No Question Asked

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 3

No Question Asked

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, November 19. Although there were several oportunities to do so, the Opposition did not raise the name of Dr. W. B. Sutch (Secretary for Industries and Commerce) in Parliament today. The Opposition could have done so by asking an urgent question, or by making reference in the adjournment debate at 11.30 p.m. to claims by the Public Service Association that a senior Cabinet minister had directly influenced the State Services Commission in matters where law requires it to be independent. The Government may have asked the Opposition for its forbearance because “negotiations are at a delicate stage.” There are hints that the affair may be settled happily by an appointment which would make full use of Dr. Sutch’s unquestioned abilities. Tonight the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) declined to discuss suggestions that he was the “senior Cabinet minister” involved. He said: “I have no idea what they can mean."

Dr. Sutch is expected to be offered a Government appointment when he is required to retire soon on completion of 40 years’ service. He will then receive superannuation amounting to £2700 a year, and at 57 will be capable of many years of top service. There is even a possibility he could be considered as New Zealand Ambassador to France, a post which he was almost offered several years ago and which is vacant at present. Government thinking would be against this, however. A far more likely possibility is that Dr. Sutch will be offered the directorship of the Institute of Design which will be set up next year, and in the formation of which he will have played a very big part.