Explains Position Of Minister’s Son

Northern Advocate, 27 May 1941, Page 2

Explains Position Of Minister’s Son

[“Special to “Northern Advocate”! WELLINGTON, This Day. In a statement the Minister for Marketing (Mr. Barclay) made reference to a suggestion to the effect that Mr. R. S. Sullivan, son of the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, had been appointed to an executive position in the Internal Marketing Division in Dunedin at a high salary. “The facts as reported to me by my officers are as follows,” said Mr. Barclay. “Some months prior to his departure for India, the Director of Internal Marketing (Mr. F. R. Picot) approached Mr. Sullivan junior, at this time president of the Christchurch Fruit Retailers’ Association, who was disposing of his business in Christchurch, to ascertain if he was prepared to accept a position in the Internal Marketing Division at Dunedin. Wage £6/15/- Weekly

“His knowledge of the fruit trade and retailing generally qualified him for the position, which was mainly in connection with fruit distribution. The appointment was eventually made, after consultation with the Public Service Commissioner’s office, to the temporary staff of the public service at a salary of £6/15/- a week. "Mr. Sullivan’s position is that of an officer of the Internal Marketing Division, under the control of the Christchurch manager, and his work is connected with the'sale and distribution of . imported and local fruits, and the general retail work of the division in Dunedin and the lower part of the South Island.

“Any suggestion that Mr. Sullivan junior has been appointed to an executive position at a high salary is therefore completely unjustified. Inquiries which I have made show that it is not the practice of the Public Service Commissioner’s office to advertise all temporary appointments, particularly in the lower grades, and when a Government department recommends the appointment of a man qualified for special work this procedure is followed.”