SUPPLY MINISTRY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 7

SUPPLY MINISTRY

SECRETARIAL STAFF OFFICERS APPOINTED .MR. L. J. SCUM ITT HEAD ORG ANISATION CCDIPLETE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Supply, the lion. D. G. Sullivan, announced yesterday that a secretariat to the Ministry had been approved by the Cabinet. The Government is endeavouring to avoid the establishment of a new department to administer the supply eniergency regulations, and it is intended that the Ministry of Supply will be staffed only by a secretariat, leaving the detail work of the organisation and control to be administered by existing departments of the State, which in normal times are closely allied to the sphere m which control in war is to be exercised. The Department of Industries and Commerce is to provide the secretarial staff, and the Minister stated that Mr. L. J. Schmitt had been apoointed secretary to the Ministry of Supply, and that Mr. J. R. Middleton had been appointed assistant secretary. In order to relieve Mr. Schmitt lor special duties in connection with the Ministry of Supply, Mr. F. Johnson, assistant Secretary of Industries and Commerce, and Mr. S. J. Collett, assistant general manager of Tourist and Publicity, will be accepting additional responsibilities. Location of Controllers The district offices of the Department of Industries and Commerce at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will form branches of the supply organisation. The various supply controllers already appointed will be located as set out below, staff and office'accommodation being provided by the department concerned. Oil Fuel Controller.— Department ot Industries and Commerce, Wellington. Wheat and Flour Controllers. • ■ Wheat Committee, Christchurch. Factory Controller— Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington. Timber Controller. State Forest Service, Wellington. Foodstuffs Controller—lnternal Marketing Department, Wellington. Mining Controller. —Mines Department, Wellington. Medical Supplies Controller.—Health Department, Wellington. Sugar Controller— Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington. , Electricity Controller. —Public Works Department, Wellington. National Security Work

The Minister said h c was pleased to report that the organisation ioi supply control was already soundlj established and well organised foi any eventuality. Preparatory work in connection with supply control in an emergency, which had been directed so successfully by the organisation for national security established by the Prime Minister’s Department, bad laid a very thorough foundation for control in an emergency. Under the co-ordination arranged by the organisation for national security, and with ttc cooperation of all departments concerned, inter-departmental committees had performed splendid service in preparing the scheme ot control and designing the skeleton organisation which, now that the necessary statutory powers had been granted, would function without any delay. The Minister indicated that the controllers were already well ahead with their work, and in most cases had already established contact with the interests most closely affected. The Minister land controllers are very appreciative of many offers 01 whole-hearted co-operation which have been extended to them by various individuals, firms, ■ organisations and bodies with whom they come in contact.