Minister of Marketing

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 123, 26 May 1936, Page 7

Minister of Marketing

Hon. W. Nash Handed the Responsibility ME. G. A. DUNCAN AS ASSISTANT-DIRECTOR Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tho Prime Minister (lion. M. J. Savage) announced to-day that bis Excellency had offered the new portfolio of Minister of Marketing to ilou. W. Nash, and in accepting the portfolio Mr. Nash said that Mr. G. A. Duncan, a member of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, would be appointed as assistant-director of marketing and acting-director of marketing. ‘‘The Primary Products Marketing Act makes provision for the appointment of a director of marketing -who will be the administrative head of tho new Primary Products Marketing'Department," said Mr. Nash. "It also makes provision for tin appointment of one or more assistant-directors of marketing. At the present time dairying is the only industry to the products of which the Act applies and accordingly, the only substantive administrative appointment immediately required is that of assistant-director of marketing in charge of t marketing of dairy produce. Mr. Duncan has been appointed an assistant-director of: marketing and his special function will be to take charge of the marketing of dairy produce, and until other appointments are made, he will also bo acting-director of marketing. Mr. Duncan will continue to hold office as a member of the Executive Commission of Agriculture and the commission will be responsible under the Minister for the organisation of the new department and planning of its work, and for assisting generally in tho administration of the Government’s marketing policy until the Primary Products Marketing Department has been fully organised and been authorised to take charge of the marketing of other commodities than dairy produce. „Tho Government proposes to utilise the services of tho Commission in tho work to which I have referred and in tho discharge of its present functions in respect of all our primary industries but in its investigations it will, however, have special regard to the future extension of marketing operations of the department and co-relation of production and marketing. When tho department has been completely organised, the functions of the Commission will be assumed by the department. The Commission as such will then be no longer required and (lie position of its members will bo reviewed in the light of conditions then existing. The establishment, of a Primary Products "Marketing Department**will necessarily involve a revision of the functions of the New Zealand Dairy Board and consequent reorganisation of Hie staff of the board. The Act provides flint members of the Dairy Board s staff may bo appointed to positions in the department and the-Government -recognises that- it; will be necessary to arrange to take over the London staff and members of the New Zealand staff of the board. These matters will bo discussed with the board at ail early date and a further announcement mado in due course."