MINISTER OF FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 7

MINISTER OF FINANCE

STAFF KEPT BUSY

FUND OF INFORMATION

(From "The Post's" Roprosontativc.)

LONDON, February 12.

Members of the staff of Mr. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, who accompanied him to London, • are collecting and collating information that will prove valuable to the New Zealand Government. In addition to providing essential material for the negotiations in connection with the proposed trade agreement, they are spending much tiire in col'.ecting and compiling data that will be required in Dominion administration in the next five or six

years. Great as the importance of this is io the ordinary citizen, the value of the information that is being obtained will be more fully realised by those who are,-or have been, actively associated with the Dominion's administration. From time to time questions arise in New Zealand upon which knowledge is required as to the procedure adopted in similar cases in the United Kingdom. Mr. Nash is endeavouring to anticipate such questions and by allocating to each member oi his staff particular branches of investigation, is making an effort to cover the whole field of inquiry in the few months available. . ' j Frequently, problems demanding urgent attention mean concentrated work, but so far members of the stall have succeeded in overcoming this difficulty and have kept to their programme by working long hours. Recently Mr. J. P. D. Johnsen Mr. G A Pascoe, and Dr. W. B. Sutch made' a short visit to the chief cities in Ireland to investigate the. procedure followed in the establishment of new industries, a number of which have been established by arrangement with the Irish Free State Government. , Mistakes- made in the past, possible developments in the industries .in the future, methods of administration, and safeguards designed to .protect the public interest, have been examined thoroughly. Discussions were held with officials and with those in charge of the industries. Dr. Sutch has also spent much time «*t Tooley -Street, and at the Simthfield Market, investigating methods of administration, distribution, and marketing of New Zealand produce. LOW COST HOUSING.

In view of the Dominion's national housing, project, much attention has been given to the subject of municipal low-cost housing.. For many years this has been a question of vital importance in, the United Kingdom, where the failure of private enterprise to meet the demand for suitable working-class houses has led the municipal authorities of the large cities to embark upon huge housing schemes financed out of public funds. ' - In collecting information upon these schemes—finance, administration, building materials, design and fittings—the delegation has been very fortunate in having the experience of corporations such' as London, Liverpool, Glasgow, arid Bristol placed before it. Recently the Danish Minister in London called upon Mr. Nash to discuss the relations between his country and New Zealand, and also to extend to the Minister an invitation to visit Denmark to examine the procedure followed in connection: with the production and marketing of butter. Arrangements are at-present,under consideration by which Mr. Nash will visit some of the Scandinavian - countries in .March, i£ time' permits. Mr. Nash's engagements have included a private luncheon with, the representatives of insurance companies with New Zealand connections, with whom he discussed insurance principles and the policy of the New Zealand Government. Mr. Nash has also continued his discussions with the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. W. S. Morrison, and the Dominions Secretary, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, regarding the proposed trade agreement.

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION,

With thedirectors of Cabie and Wireless, Limited, and other city business men, Mr. Nash has discussed the dispatch and receipt of messages between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The Minister was given a demonstration of overseas telegraphy and exchanged messages with the Dominion over a special circuit. Mr. Nash was amazed at the rapidity at which messages could be sent. Within one and a half minutes of the dispatch of his message to Auckland the Minister read the -printed return message from New Zealand.

Discussions with representatives of shipping interests have continued and Mr. Nash has spent some time in conference with Mr.. H. E. Davis, London manager of the Dairy Sales Division of the New, Zealand•' Marketing Department. A conference has been held at the Bank of England.

Mr. Nash travelled to Cambridge 'University this week where he addressed members of the Marshall Society. The chair was taken by Professor C. R: Fay, the eminent economic historian, who visited the Dominion. last year.