Page
Page
10
secretaries for economics, industry, statistics and trade. This department would not wholly absorb the present Department of Supplies, Trade and Industry. ithout commenting in detail, I might just say in passing, that I am doubtful whether it would be rignt for such a department to correspond directly with the Board of Trade in London, as proposed on page 7, as a general rule.
(10)
4. Sir A.Grantham says in (3) that his idea is,
that the Head of the Department of Commerce and
Industry ought, in effect, to be his Economic Secretary.
hang way
All this seems admirable and there would certainly seem to be no point in pressing anybody else or the Governor, especially in view of the difficulty in finding suitable people. I confess, however, to abi unclear about how far these paper plans have got, and whether the new department has anything like its full complement. Apparently, Mr. Follows remains in charge of the Department at present, and the Governor explains that his best suggestion for a Director is Mr. Thompson, although he has some mis- givings about him. It is difficult to feel that the appointment would be an ideal one under the circum- stances mentioned, although Mr. Thomson certainly has drive and a good deal of experience in supplies matters. All this seems to be petering out rather unsatisfactorily, presumably, because of the difficulty of finding the right people,,but I do not feel that there are any suggestions I can usefully make.
A.V.
Alexander
5. There remains the question whether Mr. should be informed about the outcome of his proposal about recruiting outside advisers on trade questions. Apart from this point, the report was dealt with on 54470/1/47, and perhaps. you would kindly consider whether any follow-up action is necessary on this point. If so, I will, if desired, draft a letter on this file.
ge 10
W.a.m.
19th December, 1949.
Mr. Sidebotham
You
asked me to look at this
The Govens suggestions are in the first place that no post of Economic Secretary should be created, hit that Director of Commerce & Industry
adviser to
the chas
Govt
in
the
should act
the
economic affonts, past; and, following
do
a-o
from that, that the question of filling this
post
be lift
ovir
to for
until a decision
has
be taken about further employment
An. Thomson.
doon to
The first
saying
seems to me to buil
that HK cannot expect
to
ge 10Page 11
to
X