Distinguished career ends

Press, 10 December 1983, Page 26

Distinguished career ends

By

ADRIAN BROKKING

The two biggest changes observed by the retiring manager of the Christchurch Branch of the Reserve Bank of the New Zealand (Mr R. E. Wilton, were the computerisation of records, and the bank’s greater involvement in the control of the money -supply. Mr Wilton, who retires on Wednesday after a 44-year distinguished civil service career — 36 years with the Reserve Bank — only interrupted by war-time service in the N.Z.R.A.F., plans to continue living in Christchurch. All functions of the Reserve Bank, such as exchange control and note distribution for the whole of the South Island, are carried out by the Christchurch branch — except research and the maintenance of the Government departmental accounts.

Because one of the functions of the Reserve Bank is to advise the Government, one of Mr Wilton’s major roles was to keep his ear to the ground and observe what happened in the market place — not just the money markets but the whole economy including the forward decisions of manufacturers. “If the bank had to wait for the statistics to appear, it would be well behind time to monitor the pattern as they emerge,” Mr Wilton said.

Mr Wilton, who qualified as an accountant from Victoria University, was posted to Christchurch in 1976 after several executive appointments in Wellington. He also directed two central banking study courses, in Tokyo and Bangkok. During his stay in Christchurch Mr Wilton has maintained his involvement with

a wide range of community services.

He is a Justice of the Peace, served on school committees for many years,

and as Vestry Member of St Barnabas’ Church for 5 years, and is a member of the Academic Committee of St Andrews College. At present he is president of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation of New Zealand, president of the Christchurch Rotary Club, and vice-president of the Automobile Association of Canterbury.

He is also chairman of the Christchurch Drainage Board’s finance committee, chairman of the New Zealand Council, Royal Overseas League, a trustee of the McLean Institute, a trustee of the W. H. Travis Trust for cancer research, and a trustee of the Christchurch Holiday Camps Trust, which provides holidays for underprivileged children.