Top men needed at talks

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 2

Top men needed at talks

PA Auckland . New Zealand commerce had done the country a disservice by sending its "s and-to-top" ople to Pacific Basin Economic Council meetings, said the council chairman and the New Zealand Ambassador-designate to Italy (Mr Eric Halstead). Other countries sent their chairmen and presidents but New Zealand organisations often felt that their top men should stand back a pace. Mr Halstead told the Auckland Rotary Club. New Zealand's conservative attitude to international affairs was often painfully apparent to the council, he said. Happily, though, the situation was changing, and more leading New Zealand figures in banking, commerce and finance were] going to the council meet-, ings. Next year the council’s10th annual meeting would' be held in Christchurch, and] that would be New Zeal., ’.’si chance to show the calibre! of its leaders. Mr Halstead is the first

New Zealander to be president. He said it might seem incongruous that, as a repreisentative of a country more an importer than an exporter of capital. he should be heading an organisation which accepted so much responsibility for progress in the Pacific. However, in terms of skilled people and technical expertise. New Zealand had a lot to contribute to Pacific development. Also, many Pacific nations regarded New Zealand as a good medium through which to explain and expand concepts and plans for investment and development. M.P. honoured The Member of Parliament for Hamilton East <Dr lan; Shearer) has been awarded] an honorary doctorate in. humanities from the World i University Round Table. Dr] Shearer, a graduate of! Massey University, and Not-1 tingham University, in Brit-] ain, is a member of the; world-wide academy of; scholars. —(P.A.). ■