Professor Lang

Press, 3 August 1976, Page 20

Professor Lang

In describing the retiring secretary of the Treasury (Mr H. G. Lang) as “ one of the most able and distinguished civil servants ever to have served the Government.” the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) has not over-rated the talents of Mr Lang, or under-rated those of Mr Lang’s peers and predecessors. Mr Lang’s appointment to his present post before he was 50 was the culmination of an. outstanding career in the public service, and his seven years as head of the department have been notable for the growth (some would say the undue growth) in the power of the Treasury. Mr Lang’s gifts as an administrator and qualities as a leader attracted some of the country’s most able young people to the Treasury, where their professional skills—whether as econo-

mists, accountants, or lawyers—were given full rein.

Mr Lang’s appointment as visiting professor at Victoria University next year will ensure that his talents will continue to be put to good use in the community. The university has taken a bold step in making this appointment, which must be unprecedented in New Zealand: not only will Mr Lang be the only part-time professor in a denartment which already boasts seven professors, but he will be the onlv professor of economics in the country without a doctor’s or master’s degree. He will fill a serious gap in the New Zealand universities’ teaching of public finance. There is scope in New Zealand for more exchanges of talented people between the Government and the universities—and for that matter, exchanges with private enterprise.