Govt. Would Change Coins

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 1

Govt. Would Change Coins

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 8. The Government is “quite prepared” to change the designs of New Zealand’s decimal coins because they have proved so controversial.

The Minister of Finance (Mr Lake) said today earnest consideration was being given to finding practicable and publicly acceptable designs.

“We still hope we can be imaginative but at this stage our minds are completely open," he said. The Minister said action being taken included possible amendments to the designs announced or a complete change in the designs. “The field is still open to anyone coming forward with a sound constructive suggestion,” he said. Mr Lake released photo- ( graphs of 19 sets of coin de- ■ signs by 13 designers—but the controversial set of designs I recently leaked to the press (were not on show. Asked why he had released I the photograped designs—- . which had all been studied by the Decimal Coinage Advisory (Committee —Mr Lake said: “I welcome more public re- | action on the coins because (we want to produce something (that is widely acceptable." • The Minister said the Ca-( binet was “reasonably happy” with the designs for the one and two cent coins—but added that it looked as if the other four designs would be com-1 pletely changed “SURPRISED" Asked what he thought of the public’s critical reaction to the leaked set of designs. Mr Lake said: “1 was quite surprised at the criticism of one or two of the designs." Questioned about the attitude of the Cabinet as a whole to the designs, he said: “Cabinet —like one or two other groups—has members who have reservations " The Minister said the coins which the Cabinet was quite prepared to change were the (50 cent (musterer). 20 cent! ((footballer). 10 cent (Maori! (mask), and 5 cent (mountains] and clouds). “The difficulty is in getting ! a practicable set of coins that j even two people can agree on.” he said. “It is quite easy (to offer criticism—most of it unfortunately destructive —but it is another matter entirely to get a complete set of coins that are possible to mint. “Designs of coins must be considered in three-dimension-al relief." be said. 600 DESIGNS

Mr Lake said more than 150 people submitted over, 600 designs—but of these, only

i three sets were considered by the advisory committee to be (capable of development. He said the designers—J. Churchward, L. C. Mitchell and G. Norfolk —were paid a grant of £3O each for their services. The designs were kept for consideration with others to be commissioned. The Minister said having insufficient material, the design committee then asked 14 New Zealand and overseas designers to undertake designs on a commission basis. He said those who undertook the assignment were William Gardner (United Kingdom), M. Rizzello (U.K.), Paul Vicze (U.K.), Eric Fraser (U.K.), and Milner Gray (U.K.), Paul Beadle, F. A. Shurrock, I. A. Johnstone, F. C. Staub, M. Askew and J. Berry (all of New Zealand). After thorough consideration of both artistic and technical advice of the final 14 designers a selection was made for the Cabinet to consider. said Mr Lake. After a change in the original 5 cent design—featuring geysers, mountains and volcanoes—the Cabinet finally approved the coin at present embodied in the tentative de- ’ sign published. ONLY PROVISIONAL i “It must be emphasised (that the designs released are I provisional,” said Mr Lake. “They were sent to the-Royal Mint for their expert and experienced opinion." The Minister said that the New Zealand coins were being changed for the first time in 34 years. On receipt of the Royal Mint’s comments before Christmas, the advisory committee asked the designers of the coins concerned in Janu ary to submit altered versions

to comply with the Royal Mint’s suggestions. “Further brand new alternatives were also commissioned," said Mr Lake. SEVEN OTHERS The Minister said seven other New Zealand designers were to be commissioned, but only five were now working on new designs. They are Eileen Mayo, Juliet Cowen. T. V. Johnston, T. J. Taylor, and James Berry. “It can be clearly seen to be completely incorrect to infer that no open call has

been made for designs,” said Mr Lake. “It is equally wrong to say that qualified designers have not been consulted and also wrong that care has not been exercised in selection of coins capable of being minted as a representative of New Zealand set.” he said. At a press conference after the release of his statement, the Minister said: “I am glad the coin designs were leaked. I think it is a very good thing because the Government welcomes discussion.”