Council chairman

Press, 27 March 1979, Page 24

Council chairman

Sir Philip Proctor has been chairman of the Design Council since it was officially established by Act of Parliament in 1967. Sir Philip’s background in engineering made him conscious of the need for good design, and he worked with the late Dr W. B. Sutch to have an organisation such as the Design Council set up to encourage and assist manufacturers to improve their products. Australian-born, Sir Philip was sent from Britain to New Zealand by the Dunlop Company in 1936 to start a company here. He was managing-director and chairman of the company he inaugurated until his retirement in 1965. Sir Philip says, “Making manufacturers aware of the value of design re-

search arid implementation has involved a constant effort. However, industry’s need to switch from primary to manufactured goods tor export has obliged manufacturers to study the design of thier products.” “Of major importance in the work of the Design Council has been the agreement by the Government to finance its operations with an annual grant. Although the grant hasn’t always come up to our expectations, we have been able to progress steadily and today have field officers opeating in the North and South Islands.

“It has been possible for us to develop income resources of our own so that now, one third of the Council’s total income is derived from its involvement with industry.”