Apparently it’s brief is to monitor the welfare of Auckland’s Island community, who as an aside number a third of Auckland’s Chinese community, so why not a corresponding outfit for the Chinese? We know the answer, specifically, there’s no need. Rather they get stuck in and look after themselves.
But the report resonated with me for another reason.
Back in 1956 I left school. My welder father wanted me to be a plumber which he viewed as an elite trade. My mother aspired for me to be a white collar worker.
At the time the Public Service was chasing school leavers with U.E. and issued an attractive publication detailing the various government departments’ activities.
I wanted to study but couldn’t afford to go to uni full-time so I read the publication. One took my fancy as interesting so I applied and was duly taken on board while studying at Victoria part-time.
That was the Department of Island Territories. It administered what was then called Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, the Tokelau and Chatham islands. All subsequently became independent except the Chathams, now under the jurisdiction of Internal Affairs.
From memory there were about 30 staff. At best 12 had something to do, When I asked for something to do I was told to read my university books.
For example, it had a staff clerk, a Mr Heatley, who sat in a windowless room perpetually rolling cigarettes.
There was also a Legal officer, also with nothing to do; a German migrant, Dr Eichlebaum. Eventually, I spent most days sitting with him. He would talk about German philosophers, some quite oblique to me and give me their books which I still have.
His son, the late Sir Tom Eichlebaum, was to become Chief Justice. I knew Tom and he once told me that his Dad would come home and talk about me. I was initially puzzled but then worked it out, specifically because talking to me, he having nothing else to do, filled his day. Anyway, after a few months I pulled stumps and walked out with the staff clerk, Mr Heatley’s voice ringing in my ears, “You’ll never get a job in the public service again”.
I vividly recall standing on the street euphoric, excited at the world of then unknown opportunities awaiting.
Reflecting on this I dug out from my library Roger Hall’s play “Gliding on”, a satire on the Public Service which caused a sensation half a century back. Trust me; it was a massive under-statement, at least based on my experience.
But even if on my estimation only about a dozen of the 30 strong personnel Department of Island Territories had anything to do, nevertheless their responsibility was a hundred times greater than today’s Auckland Ministry of Pacific Affairs with it 400% greater staff numbers.
Add to that, a number of privately funded welfare charitable operations providing advisory help for South Auckland’s maori and Pacific communities, over and above many other Government Departments as well.
The incoming National government, based on their history, will tinker around the edges when a much more radical approach is needed. It’s why I last voted for them in 1981.
But I’m picking that ACT will not be a tag-on coalition partner but instead a meaningful one, with 20 to 23 MP’s. Unlike the Nats, and like Labour when in opposition they’re driven by a passion for reform, the National Party’s main concern being to simply run the shop and stay in office.
Such will be the scale of the coming political landslide with Labour justifiably decimated, there will never be a better time for true radical reform.
Not rocking the boat as a policy is why National have dominated our post-war politics, specifically, we all crave stability, which is what they bring to the table.
But there are times when radical measures are required, such as the appalling mess the current government has left us with. Normally this is a job left to the occasional Labour governments so it’s ironic that this time it’s the reverse. That’s a direct consequence of Winston putting them in office when they simply weren’t ready. It was like handing the keys to a bus to a 10 year old to drive.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE - where this article was sourced.
At the time the Public Service was chasing school leavers with U.E. and issued an attractive publication detailing the various government departments’ activities.
I wanted to study but couldn’t afford to go to uni full-time so I read the publication. One took my fancy as interesting so I applied and was duly taken on board while studying at Victoria part-time.
That was the Department of Island Territories. It administered what was then called Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, the Tokelau and Chatham islands. All subsequently became independent except the Chathams, now under the jurisdiction of Internal Affairs.
From memory there were about 30 staff. At best 12 had something to do, When I asked for something to do I was told to read my university books.
For example, it had a staff clerk, a Mr Heatley, who sat in a windowless room perpetually rolling cigarettes.
There was also a Legal officer, also with nothing to do; a German migrant, Dr Eichlebaum. Eventually, I spent most days sitting with him. He would talk about German philosophers, some quite oblique to me and give me their books which I still have.
His son, the late Sir Tom Eichlebaum, was to become Chief Justice. I knew Tom and he once told me that his Dad would come home and talk about me. I was initially puzzled but then worked it out, specifically because talking to me, he having nothing else to do, filled his day. Anyway, after a few months I pulled stumps and walked out with the staff clerk, Mr Heatley’s voice ringing in my ears, “You’ll never get a job in the public service again”.
I vividly recall standing on the street euphoric, excited at the world of then unknown opportunities awaiting.
Reflecting on this I dug out from my library Roger Hall’s play “Gliding on”, a satire on the Public Service which caused a sensation half a century back. Trust me; it was a massive under-statement, at least based on my experience.
But even if on my estimation only about a dozen of the 30 strong personnel Department of Island Territories had anything to do, nevertheless their responsibility was a hundred times greater than today’s Auckland Ministry of Pacific Affairs with it 400% greater staff numbers.
Add to that, a number of privately funded welfare charitable operations providing advisory help for South Auckland’s maori and Pacific communities, over and above many other Government Departments as well.
The incoming National government, based on their history, will tinker around the edges when a much more radical approach is needed. It’s why I last voted for them in 1981.
But I’m picking that ACT will not be a tag-on coalition partner but instead a meaningful one, with 20 to 23 MP’s. Unlike the Nats, and like Labour when in opposition they’re driven by a passion for reform, the National Party’s main concern being to simply run the shop and stay in office.
Such will be the scale of the coming political landslide with Labour justifiably decimated, there will never be a better time for true radical reform.
Not rocking the boat as a policy is why National have dominated our post-war politics, specifically, we all crave stability, which is what they bring to the table.
But there are times when radical measures are required, such as the appalling mess the current government has left us with. Normally this is a job left to the occasional Labour governments so it’s ironic that this time it’s the reverse. That’s a direct consequence of Winston putting them in office when they simply weren’t ready. It was like handing the keys to a bus to a 10 year old to drive.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE - where this article was sourced.
7 comments:
Bob, in my humble opinion the real problem is the quality of our politicians. Yes, occasionally we get a great one and they run a tight ship 90% of the time with minimal internal chaos (read john key). Then at the opposite end of the scale you have ardern and Hipkins labour. How they hold a straight face and tell the country that nothing is wrong is criminal in itself.
My solution- I would pay the prime minister $3m+ and a slightly lesser amount for the incoming team. Then we might attract some really great talent, not the politicians who are in it just for themselves and those with no life experience and just out of a classroom.
They would probably need to exhibit social responsibility (quite difficult now days with the amount of lunatics being promoted).
So my criteria is quit simple, you need to have run a successful business and exhibited social responsibility. That would pretty much have ruled out everyone in the labour party except for perhaps Andrew little who ran a union ( unsure if that counts).
So for a cost of about $220m you would have a competent team, and we wouldn't be in this mess. What a bargain.
It's the Nat's immigration policy that bothers me the most but also they don't look ready to do anything meaningful. If they unwind some of the Maori wonderfulness and racist policies that will be good. But I think they're too woke for that. That's where ACT will rock the boat but in good and bad ways. Oh well, from chaos comes order eventually.'
MC
Bob, the Pacific Affairs, Human Rights, Womens plus Be Kind ministries should be totally gone, enough bludgers with their snouts in the trough to last 10 governments. All the desk jockeys and chair warmers could then be sent to pick Kiwifruit or other crops if they are capable of bending over, finally they could actually be productive. Wish Luxon had the balls to really make a change; if he has enough time away from his te reo lessons. Kiwialan.
John Key - deferred responsibility. He agreed to UNDRIP participation. That has lead to chaos and civil servants.
Bob interesting as ever. I guess the Min of Pacific Affairs took inspiration from the myriad ever multiplying and expanding maori based govt departments. With that number of staff little wonder they were able to extract yet another apology for the entirely justifiable dawn raid incident. It is incredible that it viewed its gifts as appropriate. It raises the question of their judgement to perform any duty with any hint of efficiency.
I was in govt employ. "Gliding On" certainly resonated. We had in the office a bloke the very image of Jim, complete with cigarette, packed lunch, coloured jersey and the overnight shopping bag. He had been aircrew POW which doubtless shaped his views on life (and employer response). Regularly disappeared off to the TAB. and openly used sick leave to paint his house.
Have National ever reversed any Labour legislation of any consequence?
The numbers don't support this if we believe the polls and listen to the rhetoric that is being broadcast.
It's much more likely;y that Lixflakes, (made in Petone many years back in Bobs days as a kid), will do coalition with the Greens. with a third party such as Te Pati cakes propping them up.
Luxy is a Greeny and a WEL slave and Willis is a Greeny from way back. Luxy thinks Jimmy two mums is a great leader.
Meanwhile, they are walking back from ACT with lots of mud-slinging going on.
they are so bad that they may pick up the Greens and what's left of Labour. entirely plausible.
Meanwhile NZ First is closer to Act than what many think.
so there is some possible combinations there.
It will take months to sort them out.
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