MINISTER'S STAFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 10

MINISTER'S STAFF

*ECONOMIC PROBLEMS PROFESSOR BELSHAW'S POST STATEMENT BY MR. COATES The announcement that Professor H. Belshaw, professor of economics at Auckland University College, had joined his secretarial staff was made by the Minister of Finance, the Ht. Hon. J. G. Coates, in the course of a telephone conversation with the Hkrai.d from Dargaville last night. It was reported last November that the appointment of Professor Belshaw as economic adviser to the Government was pending. Mr. Coates said last night that Professor Belshaw had joined his staff as one of his private secretaries, the appointment being for 12 months. His duties would be to prepare returns and general statistical information on economic matters and generally to discuss all such matters with the Minister as they affected departmental work. Similar duties have been performed during the past few years by Dr. 11. M. Campbell, private secretary to Mr. Coates, who is leaving for England shortly to act for a period as economic adviser at the High Commissioner's office in London.

"I expect that Professer Belshaw will be able to do very useful work in his new position," Mr. Coates said. "Not only should his expert advice be of assistance to the Government, but the experience ho gains in administrative affairs should also bo <\f gicat value to him when he resumes his professorial duties at the university. Professor Belshaw has been granted leave of absence for a year by the Auckland University College Council and next year h# will tbke. his sabbatical year's leave, which he would originally have taken this year. During Professor Belshaw s absence, Mr. H. R. Rodwell, lecturer in economics, will be at the head of the School of Economics at the college. Ho will return from England shortly after spending a year on exchange at Leeds University.