SEVEN NAMES FOR DEPARTMENT HEAD

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30678, 18 February 1965, Page 1

SEVEN NAMES FOR DEPARTMENT HEAD

Seven names are before the State Services Commission for the position of Secretary for Industries and Commerce. This will become vacant on March 31 with the retirement of Dr. W. B. Sutch.

Tipped as most likely to succeed Dr. Sutch as permanent head of the department is the present Assistant Secretary for Overseas Trade in the department (Mr M. J. Moriarty), but there are some notable other are some notable candidates.

Aged 50, Mr Moriarty has served 31 years in the public service. He took up his present position in 1958. The other applicants are: Mr J. P. Lewin, aged 49, who is Assistant Secretary for Industry in the department. He joined the public service in 1934. Mr I. G. Lythgoe, aged 50, a member of the State Services Commission. He has had 32 years in the public service, mostly in the Treasury. Mr J. V. T. Baker, aged 51, is at present Government Statistician. He has been a public servant for 34 years. Mr G. R. J. Hope, aged 55, is at present Senior Trade Commissioner for New Zealand in Washington. He joined the public service in 1926. Mr G. D. L. White, aged 46, is acting deputy Secretary for External Affairs, and was formerly deputy High Commissioner in London. He has been a public servant for 19 years. Mr K. B. O’Brien, aged 39, is a business consultant who

has been a member of the Tariff and Development Board since 1962. The situation is a very interesting one, considering the quality and position of some of the applicants. As a member of the Public Service Commission and also an applicant, Mr Lythgoe, for instance, must give the commission a special problem. Mr White returned from London late last year and since then has been occupying the position of the late Mr Foss Shanahan as Deputy Secretary of External Affairs. He has not yet been con-

firmed in this position, however, although he was acting secretary during the recent absence in London of the secretary, Mr A. D. Mclntosh. It is probable that Mr White’s confirmation as Deputy Secretary of External Affairs will have to await the State Services Commission’s decision on the industries and commerce post.

The application of Mr Baker, with his strong academic background I 'and years of service, could only have complicated the position. As a head of a department he would be a difficult man to replace.