TREASURY HEAD’S WORK PRAISED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30631, 23 December 1964, Page 3

TREASURY HEAD’S WORK PRAISED

(From Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, December 22. The qualities needed for the earning of £4950 a year are high intelligence, an extensive knowledge of the field, a broad appreciation of the humanities and sciences generally, courage tempered by good judgment, a high standard of integrity in the performance of duties, and the ability to secure the cooperation of others. This was explained today by the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake). The post concerned is the top one in the New Zealand civil service— Secretary of the Treasury.

Speaking at a farewell function to the retiring secretary (Mr E. L. Greensmith), Mr Lake said that in the opin- ; ion of the Government, Mr I Greensmith had all these qualities in good measure. > “We have not always taken i the advice tendered by the Treasury, but we have always paid a great deal of respect to what we have received, and have often tempered our contemplated action because of it,” he said. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said Mr Greensmith had meant a lot to the Government over the last few years. He personally had never ignored Mr GreenI smith’s advice.

Mr Greensmith said his period with the Treasury had been very rewarding. He was gratified that the policy of defenestration—“throwing a man out of the top window” —had not been practised on him so far. “It is consoling to me that it has been confined to top politicians and not to civil servants,” he said.

Labour Shortage.—There was a heavy labour shortage at Lyttelton yesterday morning and at 8 a.m. an additional 200 men were required to fill existing vacancies. Vessels idle were the Konini and Poranui. The Kopara was anchored in the stream awaiting a berth. A phosphate carrier, the Pinebank, from Nauru, which berthed last evening, has 4000 tons fori discharge.