Administers 61 Acts

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33050, 18 October 1972, Page 24

Administers 61 Acts

Department of Internal Affairs has a responsibility in what may be broadly termed constitutional affairs—the office of the Governor - General, parliamentary matters, the oversight of local government, and citizenship.

It also covers a wide range of national, cultural, historical, and sporting interests including the Dominion Museum, National Art Gallery, National Archives, Historic Places Trust, State Literary Fund, war graves and memorials, film censor’s office,' civil defence, youth services, wildlife, explosives and dangerous goods and gaming branches. Internal Affairs, as it has been called since 1907, has a proud history, being one of the first administrative bodies established in New Zealand after the Proclamation of British Sovereignty in 1840. Its original title was that of Colonial Secretary’s Office and as such it was the focal point of the Governor’s administration, being the channel of communication between the Government and the public. Many of the functions it carried out in those early days later blossomed forth into separate departments of State. Some indication of the varied nature of the department’s functions today may be gained from the fact that it administers some 61

> Acts, many of them of major importance. ! The following list gives examples of the work carried out by the department, and the branches concerned can give valuable training and experience in administrative and other fields and so provide a sound basis for a career in the Public Service.

As part of the department’s training scheme, new employees are moved around the various branches of the department during the first two years of their employment. Local government The Local Government Branch is principally concerned with the administration of legislation affecting local authorities. It also has responsibilities in certain constitutional matters, including the summoning, proroguing, and dissolution of Parliament, and the assumption of the office of a new Governor - General. Other duties include the weekly publication of the “New Zealand Gazette,” co-ordina-tion of Government administration of the Chatham Islands, general work in connection with war graves, and the provision of administrative assistance to the Local Government Commission. In all, the branch administers 26 local government and five miscellaneous acts of Parliament. Youth services This branch deals with the promotion of youth activities and leadership training in recreation. It works in liaison with youth and other organisations throughout the country through its activities officers and sponsors, on a national basis, the important “Water Safety Campaign,” working through the National Water Safety Council and its local committees. It also provides secretarial service for the mountain safety and antilitter campaigns. Wildlife The Wildlife Branch is engaged in conserving and protecting native fauna in New Zealand, game bird management, and adminis-

tering the Rotorua and Southern Lakes acclimatisation districts, including the Taupo fishing district. The major activity in these three districts is the management of trout-fishing waters. Three technical traineeships are available each year for boys genuinely interested in the wildlife field who are between 17 and 19 years of age and have school certificate as a minimum educational qualification. Trainees are given a thorough grounding in all relevant aspects of field work.

Dominion Museum Museum work covers zoology, entomology, ethnology, taxidermy, and other specialised fields. Graduates and others interested should inquire about vacancies from the Director, Dominion Museum, Buckle Street, Wellington. Advisory, Research The Advisory and Research Branch carries out research into, and makes reports on, major administrative and legislative proposals. There is scope here for young people interested in documentary research and specialist reporting. National Archives The function of National Archives is to preserve Government records of historical importance and make them accessible to students, scholars, and the public. Records centres at Auckland and Lower Hutt store both archives and records, but the most important documents are held at National Archives headquarters in Wellington. Explosives This branch is concerned with explosives of all kinds and also dangerous goods, primarily inflammable liquids. The objects are to control these substances to protect life and property, mainly by issuing licences and inspecting premises through the country, and by conducting training courses for dangerous goods inspectors employed by local authori-

ties throughout New Zealand. The work of the inspectors of explosives covers a wide and interesting technical field. Citizenship The Citizenship Section is concerned with the determination of New Zealand citizenship, the granting of New Zealand citizenship to aliens and citizens of other Commonwealth countries, and the renunciation and deprivation of New Zealand citizenship. The Passport Section is responsible for issuing passports to New Zealand citizens and travel documents to New Zealand residents who are stateless or unable to obtain travel documents from their own countries.

Tlie Translation Section translates foreign language papers and documents for all Government departments and for outside organisations. There are occasional vacancies for people with a knowledge of languages (particularly Russian, German, and French) and with a good educational background. Gaming The administration of the Gaming Act is the main responsibility of this branch. This includes granting totalisator licences at race meetings, licensing nontotalisator meetings, supervising the off-course betting system, issuing permits for raffles and “Housie,” and the control and supervision of the Golden Kiwi lottery and work associated with the distribution of its profits. To protect the interest of the betting public, departmental inspectors attend all race meetings.

Messenger Service The Messenger and Cleaning Service provides a housekeeping service to Government departments throughout New Zealand. Cleaners are provided for all Government buildings. The branch also provides watchmen and custodians and where necessary liftmen and boilermen. The interdepartmental messen-

ger service is also operated by this branch. Fire Service Situated at Island Bay, Wellington, the Fire Service Council is a statutory body set up to control and co-ordinate fire services in New Zealand. It incorporates a modem training school available to firemen throughout the country, with the department providing the clerical and technical staff for the council.

Civil Defence

The functions of Civil Defence are the preparation and implementation of plans to protect the public against the effects of a peacetime disaster as well as wartime dangers, and principal efforts are towards the preservation of life. The Ministry of Civil Defence is the national planning and co-ordinating headquarters and is responsible for the direction of personnel, material, and services made available by Government for civil defence purposes. The Ministry’s regional commissioners advise and assist local authorities in the planning, co - ordination, and exercise of their civil defence activities.

General Separate branches such as accounts, administration, records, typing, and staff and salaries are responsible for the provision of office services for the department. Good training is available in these branches. Other activities for which the department is responsible include the National Art Gallery, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and the reception of distinguished visiltors. The head office is in Wellington with branch offices in Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, and Queenstown. AU inquiries concerning employment should be addressed to the Staff Clerk, Department of Internal Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington.