GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20906, 21 December 1929, Page 10

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

ALTERATION IN PORTFOLIOS,

AMALGAMATION OP DUTIES,

(&F£cial to Daily Times,)

WELIiINGTON, December 20. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward; stated to-day that it has beeu decided to amalgamate the following Government departments.-' iourist and Jdealth -Resorts Department, Publicity Section of the Department ot Internal Affairs and Industries and Commerce Department. i.iie fact that the position of general managei of Xourist and .Health Resorts Department was vacated owing to the death of Mr B. M. Wilson, aud that Mr J. W. Collins, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, has been appointed to the position of New Zealand representative in Canada, facilitated the amalgamation of the two departmeats under one official head, stated feu- Joseph. The bringing together of these two departments under one departln.e“^al liead would enable the activities of the lourist. Publicity, and Commerce Departments, which have hitherto beeu carried on more or Jess independently, to be properly co-ordinated not only in New Zealand but in Australia and abroad: and, in addition to increased efficiency, will lead to more economical manage-

.. -1 f or f ome J 1 ? 16 P ast >” said Sir Joseph. it has been felt that the organisation of the trade representation in the Commonwealth of Australia could be considerably improved; and after careful consideration ot -New Zealand a present representation j i i ant * a brpad, it has been decided to effect certain improved departmental reorganisation. The selection of a special representative in Canada has already been announced. Without in any way affecting the Government’s policy in regard to facilitating shipping communication between Melbourne and New Zea- « ithe view of making .more effective the control of the organisation, both from the trade and tourist points of view, it has been decided to appoint a special officer from New Zealand to direct the whole of the Dominion’s representni'l?.? t ,n A « stralia - The officer selected will have his headquarters in Sydney in stead of in Melbourne as heretofore Special consideration will be given to the question of furthering trade and commer cial interests between the two countries in addition to placing before the public ot Australia New Zealand’s commercial possibilities and tourist attractions” Sir Joseph also stated that the proposed departmental amalgamation will facilitate the reorganisation and will not only lessen the present cost but at the came time render a more effective service in so far as the commercial interests of the Dominion are concerned. The importance of the tourist traffic will continue to receive special consideration, but it is considered that the development of commercial interests should receive' more attention than has been the case in the past.

The Prime Minister added that the iublic berv.ee Commissioner would deal with' the matter of reorganisation in so tar as the staff-proposals were concerned. A. de la Perrclle will be the ° f Tourist and p «W‘city