COIN ANNOUNCEMENT UPSETS GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 1

COIN ANNOUNCEMENT UPSETS GOVERNMENT

None Of Designs Yet In Final Stage (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 2.

Consternation in Government circles today greeted the publication by three New Zealand evening newspapers of designs for New Zealand’s decimal coinage. Senior Ministers expressed their concern because, they said, four of the six designs had been adversely commented upon by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, and none of the six was in its final stage.

“We had been advised against giving publicity to the designs at this stage,” said the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake). The Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) said it had not been intended to show the designs to the public before they had been approved by the Royal Mint.

“The practice is not to show designs of new coinage to the public before they are completely ready,” he said. “I do not know of a country which shows coin designs before issue.” At a special press confer-1 ence tonight, Mr Muldoon i said that the designs had been approved by the Cabi- ■ net. They were the only de-1 signs to be sent to the Royal. Mint Advisory Committee. “They were selected as a set, showing many facets of: New Zealand life,” he said.

“They are a sort of family group.” Asked whether other designs were submitted, he said: “Yes, a huge number.” Mr Muldoon said that, now that four of the six designs had been commented upon unfavourably from a coinage point of view by the Royal Mint, it would be three to ■ four months before the designs would be completed. Biggest Number ; The situation was not too difficult in that the two approved designs, those of the one and two-cent pieces, were of the coins requiring the i largest number.

Asked if the designs would have been released if the evening newspapers had not published them, Mr Muldoon said: “No. There is no point in publishing designs that will be altered. ... It is quite contrary to practice to show designs which have to

be redesigned—but as this has happened, 1 have no recourse but to release these pictures.” Questioned on redesign. Mr Muldoon said: “The Royal Mint’s comments related to the coinability of the designs. The four which have to be redesigned may affect the others. This could affect even the approved one-cent and two-cent coins.

i “What we proposed to do is to look at some different concepts. I do not exclude the possibility that we shall have some of the designs on existing coins.” Mr Muldoon said that the plaster models 6f the approved coins were now under way. When the plaster casts were complete, it would not be likely that they would be changed. The present designs were submitted to experts in the various fields before leaving New Zealand. The footballer, for instance, was shown to a senior member of the Rugby Union. The musterer was seen by a group of sheepfarmers. Some alteration and redrawing resulted. “Now we shall have a look at the whole set.” Mr Muldoon said. “We do not think the one-cent and two-cent will be changed—but they could be." Asked if the redesigned coins would be publicised so that the public would have an opportunity to see them, Mr Muldoon said: “I’ll have to dodge that one. I’ll have to put it up to the Cabinet. We are a bit too early at present.” He added that it was intended to show the designs after they had been approved by the Royal Mint but before the plaster casts were made. Asked “if there is a public outcry, would you change the design,” Mr Muldoon said: “It is very hard to get a definite expression of opinion. You might get a member of the public to say he doesn’t like a design—but it is harder to find one what he does like.” Mr Muldoon was also asked whether the public would have a chance of seeing the new banknotes before they were printed. “This is entirely a matter for the Reserve Bank,” he said. “The Reserve Bank is very jealous of its independence.”