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Press, 7 September 1989, Page 12

senior civil servant needs the support of three dozen friends and relations to establish • his significance and the importance of his transfer. Strangest of all is that the taxpayer has funded the travel and accommodation of all these people, and of the welcoming function. When the Government has so many pressing expenses that it is unable to meet, this “perk” is an outrage. — Yours, etc.,

M. E. DAVIES, A. C. DAVIES, A. W. DAVIES. September 1, 1989.

Sir,—l am not particularly concerned that it cost $12,000 to transfer a Department of Social Welfare officer to Christchurch. I am more concerned that a Government department should make such a transfer (at the level of regional assistant direc-tor-general) a mere five weeks prior to the appointee’s retirement. Would the acting directorgeneral care to justify this policy?—Yours, etc., PETER PERRY. September 1, 1989.

[The acting Director-General, Department of Social Welfare, Mr R. J. Wilson, replies: “The officer concerned was transferred with the expectation that he would remain in Christchurch until his intended retirement in March, 1991. It is regrettable, but totally unforeseen, that personal circumstances arose which led to his seeking early retirement after only five weeks in the new position.”]