PUBLICITY AND COMMERCE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1929, Page 8

PUBLICITY AND COMMERCE

PROPOSALS OF GOVERNMENT AMALGAMATION OF DEPARTMENTS, GREATER EFFICIENCY THE AIM. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward to-day said the fact that the position of general manager of the Tourist and Health Resorts Department was vacant owing to the death of the late Mr. Wilson anti that Mr. Collins, secretary of the Department of Industry and Commerce, had been appointed New Zealand’s representative in Canada facilitated the amalgamation of the two departments under one official head. The bringing together of these two departments under one departmental head would enable the activities of the Tourist Publicity and the Commerce Departments, which hitherto had been 'carried on more or less independently, to be properly co-ordinated not only in New Zealand but in Australia and abroad, and in addition to increased efficiency it would lead to more economical management. For some time it had been felt that the organisation of the trade represented in the Commonwealth of be considerably improved, and after careful consideration of New Zealand’s present representation in Australia and abroad it had been decided to effect certain improved departmental reorganisations. The selection of a special representative in Canada had already been announced. Without in any way affecting the Government’s policy in regard to faeiiiating shipping communication between Melbourne and New Zealand, but with a view of making more effective the control of the organisation both from the trade and tourist points of view, it had been decided to appoint a special officer from New Zealand to direct the whole of the Dominion's representation in Australia. The officer selected would have his headquarters in Sydney instead of Melbourne as heretofore. Special consideration would be given to the question of furthering trade and commercial interests between the two countries, in addition to placing before the public of Australia New Zealand’s commercial possibilities and tourists attractions. Sir Joseph Ward also said that the proposed departmental amalgamation would facilitate the reorganisation and would not only lessen the present cost but at the same time it would render more effective the service in so far as commercial interests of the Dominion ; was concerned. The importance of tourist traffic would continue to receive special consideration, b t it was cofisidered the development of commercial interests should receive more attention than had been the case in the past. The Public Service Commissioner would deal with the matter of reorganisation in so far as staff proposals were concerned.