WASHINGTON POST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25000, 16 September 1944, Page 8

WASHINGTON POST

THE FIRST SECRETARY APPOINTMENT CRITICISED (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Friday The circumstances under which Mr .T, S. Beid was appointed first secretary to the New Zealand Legation in Washington were related by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, when replying during consideration of the Estimates in the House of Representatives today to Opposition criticism of some recent appointments to the Public Service. Replying to Mr G. H. Mackley (Opposition—Masterton), who had raised the subject, Mr Nash said that Mr Reid formerly was a solicitor practising at Lower Hutt. "He came to work for me in 1930," said Mr Nash. "I do not think ho is a member of the Labour Party or ever was. Later he was made assistant-law draughtsman and joined the Public Service. He then went to the Treasury and two appeals ngainst his appointment to it were dismissed. Political Influence Feared "At Washington I had a very competent first seoretary in Mr Geoffrey Cox, That was a political He wished to rejoin the New Zealand Division and when he went back to the forces I asked Mr Reid to take his place. There is not much politics in that, because he is in Washington and I am here." Mr Mackley: There are many of those in the Public Service. The Minister: Yes, and Mr Roid is one of them. I cannot understand the animus against him on the part of some members of the Opposition. Mr Mackley said he had raised the question as a matter of principle. He feared that political influence was obtruding itselt and he opposed such appointments because he considered that every position in the Public Service should be open to every citizen for application in terms of the Public Service Act.

Mr A. J. Murdoch (Opposition— Marsden) said a system was wrong when a man could bo brought into a high position and promoted to the detriment of those already in the Public Service. "Perfectly In Order"

The Prime Minister, Mr Eraser, said that Mr Reid's appointment was perfectly in order. As long as the right of appeal existed there could be no objection. He did not believe that the Public Service itself wanted stereotyped promotion. Mr Murdoch: Is there any other wav of getting into the Public Service except through the law draughtsman's office?

The Prime Minister: Does the Opposition suggest that brilliant New Zealanders outside the service should not be brought in to serve their country? Mr Mackley: No, provided that tho routine is complied with. Were all tho requirements, complied with in connection with Mr Laing? Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition—Tauranga) : There is a great deal of heartburning in the Public Service because so many men are brought in from out side and given the plums.

OVERSEAS TRADE HEAVY IMPORTS £10,234,000 IN JULY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday totalling £6,287,000, the highest for five years with the exception of 1942, are shown in the return of overseas trade for July issued by the Customs Department today. Imports, though still very high at £10,23-1,000, were smaller than those for the corresponding month last year, when a July record was created. The balance of imports over exports was £3,947,000 compared with £5,727,000 for July last year. In previous years there was an excess of exports. Import values include defence materials and equipment, also lend-lease supplies, but the export figures do not include reverse lend-lease supplies Following is a comparison of the returns for July in the past five years: — Excess of Exports Imports Exports July £ £ £ 1940 .. 5,020,000 4,061,000 00S.00O 1941 .. 5,106,000 4,338,000 858,000 1942 .. 9,784,000 5,491,000 4,203,000 1043 5,496,000 11,223,000 *5,727,000 1914 .. 6,287,000 10,234,000 *3,947.000 ♦Excess of imports. For the seven months of the calendar year imports have soared to £55,141,000, the highest since before the'war, and £1,548,000 more than in the parallel period of last year. Exports at £41,304,000 show an increase of £2,164,000 over those for the corresponding period last year, though they are well below the high 1942 total. A comparison of the returns for the seven months ended July in the past five years is as follows: — Jan.- Exports Imports Excess July £- £ £ 1940 .. 49,661,000 28,930,000 20,731,000 1941 .. 41,853,000 26,395,000 15,458,000 1942 .. 53,001,000 29,758,000 23,243,000 1943 .. 39,110,000 53,593,000 *14,453,000 1944 .. 41,304,000 55,141,000 *13,837,000 •Excess of imports. GREY BAR CLEARS SHIPS ABLE TO SAIL 00.C.) GREYMOUTH, Friday There has been an improvement of nearly 7ft in the low water depth on the Greymouth Harbour bar as a result of recent freshes in the Grey River. This now gives a satisfactory depth of 25ft at high water, and all restrictions on ships' cargoes are now lifted. The seas had abated sufficiently this morning to permit of the departure of three vessels which had been barbound for The Karu, which had been in port for 15 days, sailed with timber for Wellington, while the Para, with coal for Wellington, and the Kiwitea, with coal for Auckland, also sailed. The Kaimiro, which had been in the roadstead since Sunday, entered port, but the Titoki and Rata, also in the roadstead for several days, were diverted to Westport and to Wellington respectively. The Poolta remained in port this morning, after being barbound for several days with her cargo of nearly 2000 tons of coal for the Wellington gasworks because a member of_ the crew was taken ashore after receiving an injury. Notwithstanding a provision in the case of bar harbours whereby vessels can sail short-handed, the crew declined to take the vessel to sea, and a union member from another port had to be secured. The ship ultimately sailed late tonight MEAT BOARD CHAIRMAN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The New Zealand Meat Producers Board lias elected Mr G, M. Grigg, of Hororata, as chairman, and Mr David Allan, the retiring chairman, who did not seek re-election, deputy-chairman.