Industries And Commerce Changes Proposed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 1

Industries And Commerce Changes Proposed

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 7.

Significant changes in responsibilities in the Department of Industries and Commerce are indicated by the calling of applications for the position of assistant-secretary (commodity) —a new post, to be responsible to the secretary (Mr M. J. Moriarty) for the administration of import licensing within the department.

The assistantsecretary (industry), Mr J. P. Lewin, is at present responsible for this branch. His duties include industrial development, commodity (mainly recommendations on import licences), trade practices and prices, standards, and the consumer service.

The Government has legislation coming forward this session to make the Standards Institute an independent organisation, thus divorcing it from the administration of the Department of Industries and Commerce. The Government will also probably, act next year to separate the 50,000-member Consumer Service from the structure of the department, 20 civil servants in which at present provide its services. The Government will this year also materially amend

the 1958 Trade Practices Act and as a result fewer cases could be brought before the Trade Practices Commission by the department, but may mean more negotiations by it with commercial and trade interests. Until the recent retirement of Dr. W. B. Sutch, the department had three assistantsecretaries, but now with the appointment of Mr Moriarty, who was Assistant-Secretary (overseas trade), to succeed

Dr. Sutch as secretary, only two remain. They are Mr Lewin, onetime president and leading figure in the Public Service Association, and Mr H. L. Wise, Assistant • Secretary (Special Duties).

Mr Wise will retire next month, when he will be 65, and after 36 years in the Public Service. His present duties are largely" connected with the Motor-Spirits Licensing Authority, the Wheat Committee and the tobacco industry. The post of Assistant-Secre-tary (overseas trade) is being advertised at £3300 (special class) and that of AssistantSecretary (commodity) at £2900.

The position of an assistant secretary in the Industries and Commerce Department is a higher appointment, as defined in the State Services Act, 1962. There is no right of appeal against such an appointment.