THE STATE FORESTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20190, 5 July 1928, Page 8

THE STATE FORESTS

A TEMPORARY CHIEF NEW ZEALANDER’S PROMOTION [ Special “Chronicle” Service ] WELLINGTON, July 4. The appointment of Mr E. PhillipsTurner as director of the State Forest Service, appears to be no more than a temporary way out of the difficulty created by the resignation of Mr L. Macintosh Ellis to enter private practice. Mr Phillips-Turner will reach the retiring age in less than two years, and unless there are special circumstances which make the Government decide to retain his services, another appointment will have to be made in a comparatively short time. .The position of the Director of State Forestry is somewhat curious. Mr Phillips-Turner, though previously rated as secretary, has always been ihe statutory head of the department. The post of director was created by Cabinet, and the recent director was appointed for fixed periods, his appointment being renewed on two occasions, the second just before he decided to leave the service. Therefore the dirctor is not, strictly speaking, a civil servant, in the sense that he has not been appointed by the Public Service Commissioner. Just what are the intentions of the Minister in charge (Hon. O. J. Hawken) is not clear; but it is known that he is anxious that appointments within his department shall be from New Zealanders, recognising the danger of discouragement of officers at present attached by any policy of seeking men outside the country for important posts. Therefore it appears that soon another member of the service will have to be found to succeed Mr PhillipsTurner.