Mr Watt: loan, car, $l8,000

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34104, 17 March 1976, Page 3

Mr Watt: loan, car, $l8,000

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 15. A housing loan from Accident Compensation Commission at standard Housing Corporation rates and the use of a commission car for official business are among the extra benefits that Mr Hugh Watt can look forward to on his return to Wellington later this year. M.- Watt, who has announced his retirement as New Zealand High Commissioner in London will assume appointment as one of three commissioners with the Accident Compensation Commission at a reported salary of $lB,OOO. The chairman of the commission (.Mr K. L. Sandford) said today that contrary to some published reports Mr Watt would not be allocated a commission house in which to live. “We don’t have any, but Mr Watt will be entitled along with other members of the

commission and its staff to receive a housing loan at standard rates,” he said. The approval for such loans had been given by the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon). Mr Sandford said he did not know whether Mr Watt would in fact be seeking such a loan, but this would be dealt with in confidence at a suitable time.

“The commission has a fleet of motor vehicles at its various offices and each of the commissioners is provided with one of these vehicles for official business, but it is not for his exclusive use. The official business includes driving to and from home. In addition he has limited personal use of the car for which he must meet all running expenses, but as all the commissioners have their own private cars, such personal use is very limited,” Mr Sandford said.