A NEW DEPARTMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21114, 23 February 1932, Page 10

A NEW DEPARTMENT.

LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION.

RESULT OF AMALGAMATION. UNEMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Monday. The amalgamation of Iho Labour and Immigration Departments together with the administrative functions of the Unemployment Board under ono permanent head has been decided upon by tlie Cabinet. It was announced to-day that tho position had been filled by the Public Service Commissioner by Ihe appointment of Sir. G. C. Godfrey, at present Secretary of Marino and previously for many years Assistant Under-Secretary of Public Works. In addition to being permanent head of the new department, Mr. Godfrey will also assume the position of Commissioner of Unemployment. In making this announcement the INlinister in charge of Unemployment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said the purpose of the amalgamation was to secure greater co-ordina-tion between the Unemployment Board and tho Labour Department. Tho decrease in immigration enablod the functions of that department to be carried out with greater economy as part of another department. Tho knowledge and experience of tho present Commissioner of Unemployment, Mr. Malcolm Frnser, would be availed of by giving him an altered status, said Mr. Coates. He would continue to be attached to tho administration in tho capacity of an associated member of the Unemployment Board. Sir. Fraser was an especially valuable and conscientious officer, who had rendered excellent service in {he difficult and formative period of unemployment relief. His duties, however, had necessitated his attending to much detail inseparable from tho initiation of various relief schemes. He would now be freed of much of that work and so have more time to devote to the broader principles of the problems confronting the board.