BUSINESS MEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 137, 11 June 1943, Page 4

BUSINESS MEN

IN COMMERCE DEPARTMENT

Speaking in the House of Represent tatives last night, the Minister oi Supply and Munitions (Mr. Sullivan) strongly dissented from the statemeni of the Leader of the Opposition thai there had been inefficiency and chaos in the Department of Industries and Commerce. , The Department had experienced real difficulties, he said, owing to lease-lend and bulk purchase introduc-j ing fresh work and • problems, ana while work was increasing many experienced officers were taken into tha services when Japan came into the' war. The Leader of the Opposition had suggested that inefficiency was due to lack of business experience, bui he would point out that, the head oi the production branch was presideni of the New Zealand Manufacturers 1 Association before he took the posi< tion, while the Commissioner of Sup« ply (Mr. Picot) was unquestionably one of the ablest commercial men i« the country. He had surrounded himself with able, bright, young men trained in business, and had the back* ing of capable public servants. Then there was the Supply Council with, leading business men upon it. So'if there was inefficiency, added Mr. Sullivan, it must be due to taking in business men. Perhaps they ought to be replaced by competent working men without- business training. He was glad to say that the' Department wa3 now rapidly recovering the position due to staff shortage and increased work.