No Ministry Of Economic Affairs

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 16

No Ministry Of Economic Affairs

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 14.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said tonight that he had no intention of appointing a Minister of Economic Affairs. He had been asked at a press conference to comment on the proposal made last night in Christchurch by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nordmeyer).

Mr Holyoake said the report had not made clear what Mr Nordmeyer envisaged. It appeared there should be a Minister appointed without portfolio, who would be an overlord of Ministers directly responsible for Government activities in the New Zealand economy. “I presume he would be an overlord of the Minister of Finance, Industries and Commerce, Customs, and Agriculture, and probably also Labpur,” Mr Holyoake said. The Prime Minister said he

could not see the need for such an extra Ministerial post, Or for the further perhaps quite cumbersome and expensive Government machinery which would apparently accompany such an appointment. Mr Holyoake then was asked whether any further consideration had been given to appointing a Minister of Fuel and Power, as was suggested several years ago. This, Mr Holyoake said, had not been discussed for some months, and was not a current issue. All interested parties—including oil and coal firms—made representations at the time. The Government did not proceed with the proposal, and no action or announcement was imminent. About that time, the Prime Minister added, he . had invited the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) to take over the portfolio of Minister of Electricity.