Career Bill_Sutch

1 career

1.1 career
1.2 work overseas
1.3 return new zealand
1.4 legacy

career

politically, sutch on left, although wide network of friends included people of political persuasions, , perhaps person admired centre-right politician gordon coates. involved in number of left-leaning organisations , associations, , helped edit , publish literature connected them. in 1939, assisted publication of psycho-pathology in politics, written labour party dissident john a. lee attack on party s leader, michael joseph savage. sutch wrote numerous books. among first were: poverty , progress in new zealand (1941, 1969), echoed work progress , poverty, californian henry george (1879), known single [land] taxer ; , quest security in new zealand (1942, 1966)., sutch related topic.

early career

in 1933, following teaching in palmerston north boys high school, sutch took position in office of gordon coates, minister of finance. when government changed, continued on in office of coates s successor, walter nash of first labour government. had considerable input economic policy @ time. eventually, sutch s political activities deemed incompatible official role, , transferred out of economic sphere. left civil service join army, becoming instructor. returned ministry of supply arranging equipment , finance.

work overseas

at end of war, took position new united nations relief , rehabilitation administration (unrra), working in sydney , in london, covering war-devastated europe. result of work, selected head new zealand delegation united nations, held positions economic , social commission , unicef. played crucial role in un decision continue unicef, despite united states desire close down. ben alpers has said of credit unicef s nobel prize peace should go sutch , new zealand.. soviet documents claim recruited spy in 1950.

return new zealand

upon returning new zealand in 1951, sutch worked department of industries , commerce, in 1958 rising secretary. there promoted development of new zealand economy using policy instruments of day, including price controls, subsidies , import controls. concluded pastoral exports not generate enough foreign exchange maintain full employment, , continue make economy highly vulnerable fluctuations in international conditions. sought import substitution, further processing of agricultural production export, , exporting of non-pastoral agricultural exports, manufacturing , services (such tourism). such foresaw, championed , laid foundations of great export diversifications of 1970s.

sutch s promotion of industrialisation anathema of farming community, though many in business community supported him. in march 1965 forced retire after 40 years of public service employment , @ age of 57 became consultant. among many further publications books, colony or nation?, responsible society in new zealand, takeover new zealand, , women cause. festschrift, spirit of age, published in 1975. sutch became active in arts , architectural communities, including wellington architectural centre. , active promoter of new zealand design, asserting quality design central economic , social development. helped set wellington architectural centre, provided intellectual framework led formation of new zealand industrial design council , chaired queen elizabeth ii arts council (now creative new zealand).

legacy

sutch s writing provides 1 of comprehensive accounts of, , visions for, new zealand. while views original , independent, many rejected @ time accepted. nation-builder wanted see economically strong , socially fair new zealand, free colonial ties, whether economic or political. committed nationalist, , on many matters ahead of times.

economist brian easton has argued that: events surrounding trial overshadowed significance of went before, , have muted subsequent recognition of intellectual contributions. trial overshadowed role in establishment of unicef. sutch s daughter, helen sutch, said after declassification of new zealand sis documents in 2008 said: our family hopes justice can done historic legacy, has been overshadowed long events in last year of life .