“Pleasing Reaction” To Trade Posts Proposal

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 20

“Pleasing Reaction” To Trade Posts Proposal

I he commercial contribution scheme, proposed to overcome the problem of. salary in appointing men of commercial training and experience to overseas trade commission posts, had drawn a very pleasing national reaction, said the president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce (Mr S. C. Scott).

The association, he said, would prefer the Government to adopt the scheme that had been used for many years in Australia, where men of commercial ability were brought into the Public Service as trade commissioners on a contractual basis for five years or more.

They were not subject to Public Service appeals, and were paid at commercial levels for men of like qualifications, said Mr Scott. The Australian system was the best way to get qualified men.

“New Zealand faces two difficulties,” said Mr Scott. “The appeal provisions of the New Zealand Public Service Act make it very difficult for men outside the Public Service successfully to secure appointments as trade commissioners.

“The rates of pay offered by the Public Service for trade commissioners are substantially below the levels available to men of the necessary qualifications in commerce. "The Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) has frequently expressed concern at the cost of trade commission posts overseas. The commercial contribution scheme as put forward by Associated Chambers is simply as a means of overcoming the cost factor in this vital issue. “Although public reaction to our proposals has in the main been most favourable, especially from firms from whom contributions might reasonably be expected, there have been some quite valid points of criticism raised. They are:

“(1) A business executive who left his firm for three years would be badly out of touch on his return. “We consider that a man of the qualifications we are seeking would be of greater value to his firm at the end of three years than at the beginning because the experience which he would gain as a trade commissioner overseas would greatly enhance his value to his employers.

“(2) A man drawn from private industry into the trade commissioner service would have to promote the interest of companies in competition with his own.

“This is perfectly valid. All schemes have their advantages and their disadvantages and this is a disadvantage of the commercial contribution scheme.

“It should be said, however, that the quality of the sort of men we are seeking would regard it as unethical to stoop to practices of this kind. “(3) Three years is not long enough for a temporary trade commissioner.

“I hold quite the contrary view. A competent business executive—and this whole scheme is designed to secure the best men in the country —should be able to pick up the threads of his duties as trade commissioner in a few days. Commercial procedure should be second nature to him. '

“(4) Trade commissioners, are not salesmen and special training would be needed.

“The Associated Chambers holds very much the contrary view. Trade commissioners need basic commercial sense and training. “They are not appointed to sell the goods of any individual company but they are most decidedly appointed to help sell all the goods which New Zealand has of interest to the particular market in which they are working. “(5) Businessmen would find it very hard to conform to Government red tape. “Unfortunately the modern New Zealand businessman has to do this anyway in his private enterprise job or he is not a success.

“In addition, a good reason for making appointments to the trade commissioner service from commerce is to find men who are able and willing to cut through red tape.

“(6) Australian trade commissioners are not borrowed.

“We greatly favour the Australian system and have only proposed the commercial contribution scheme because of the two administrative difficulties which exist in New Zealand and which are likely to prevent the adoption of the Australian scheme in this country—unless they are removed by the Government.