Atkinson, Leonard Allan, 1906-1998

Date: 26 Jun 1991 - 12 May 1992 - 26 Jun 1991 - 12 May 1992

By: Tolerton, Jane, 1957-; Atkinson, Leonard Allan, 1906-1998; Hunn, Jack Kent, 1906-1997

Reference: OHColl-1152

Description: Interviews with three career public servants who, during the 1940s-1970, worked as inspectors, commissioners and chairmen of the Public Service Commission, which became the State Services Commission in 1962. The interviewees all entered the Public Service in the 1920s and they describe their early lives and education, and their time working in the Public Trust, Housing Corporation, Internal Affairs, Maori Affairs, Agriculture, Customs, Defence and Inland Revenue departments. They describe the work and evolution of the State Services Commission. Subjects discussed include job training, studying while working, Diploma of Public Administration, women workers, equal pay, staffing during World War II, rehabilitation of returning servicemen, strengths of the old Public Service, George Bolt, Hunn Report, 1962 Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Services, comparisons of management in the public and private sectors, remaining non-political, wage-setting and the PSA (Public Service Association). One interviewee describes his Public Trust work with estates, mortgages and properties, while another details his Customs work dealing with immigration, opium, liquor laws, indecent publications, and sales tax and duties. Interviewees are Leonard Allan Atkinson, Adrian George Rodda and Jack Kent Hunn Accompanying material - Adrian Rodda's farewell speech on retirement 1970 Abstracted by - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Arrangement: Original recordings: OHC-022262 - OHC-022270 Abstracts: OHA-7562 - OHA-7564 Quantity: 9 C60 cassette(s). 3 printed abstract(s). 3 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - State Services Commission Search dates: 1906 - 1992 Processing information: Interviews not yet described

Date: 10 May 1984

From: NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part II

By: Atkinson, Leonard Allan, 1906-1998

Reference: OHInt-0101/01

Description: Leonard Allan Atkinson born Island Bay 1906. Outlines family background - parents came to New Zealand on their honeymoon 1905 from the Lake District, England, travelling on the 5 masted Shaw Savill steamer, `Athenic'. Talks about connection with St Hilda's Church of England and gives details of various committees served on. Childhood memories recalled include: time at the beach, fishing, with reference to Italian fishermen; flu epidemic (1918) and classical education. Mentions career hopes and recalls joining Customs Department 1924, remaining until 1941. Describes duties as a clerk in the Longroom. Talks about the effects of the Depression on the Customs Department, causing increase on workload, and refers to introduction of Sales tax as a temporary measure but which remained. Recalls appointment as Stats Officer in charge of Statistical Branch to make changes. Mentions career moves to Records, then Foreign Immigration, dealing mainly with Yugoslavs, Chinese and Indians. Explains immigration policy. Refers to poll tax on Chinese. Also refers to `5 percenter'. Recalls raids on Haining Street, Wellington for opium and Pakapoo dens. Mentions being selected for first diploma in Public Administration (DPA) course at Victoria University, Wellington (1940-1941) which was done on a bursary only. Also recalls M. Com with thesis, `History of Customs Tariff, Policy and Legislation, 1840-1930s'. Mentions effectiveness of Customs Collected Revenues. Describes involvement with Import Licensing. Refers to Dr Athol McKay, Treasury (later drowned). Recalls being Chairman of Public Service Commission and Chairman of Combined Services Organisation (the negotiating body for Government for general wage increases). Talks about Walter Nash, Peter Fraser, Sidney Holland, Keith Holyoake and Tom Shand. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Accompanying material - Photocopies of newspaper cuttings re Mr Atkinson's career Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-0087.

Date: 28 Aug 1970-1972

From: King, Rita, fl 1960-1988 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-8541-06

Description: Contains copies of the Equal Pay Bill and seminar proceedings from a Equal Pay seminar held at Victoria University of Wellington. Also contains submissions from the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club; the Council of Equal Pay and Opportunity and WB Sutch. Quantity: 1 box(es).

Date: 1966-11 Sep 1989

From: King, Rita, fl 1960-1988 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-8541-16

Description: Contains research material and notes collected on women's rights and pay equity. Also includes copies of submissions made to the Commission of Inquiry into equal pay and papers from the seminar on 'Equal pay for work of equal value' in 1986. Quantity: 1 box(es).

Date: 3 Jul 1986 - 2 Jan 1987 - 03 Jul 1986 - 02 Jan 1987

By: McCarthy, Thaddeus Pearcey (Rt Hon Sir), 1907-2001; Atkinson, Leonard Allan, 1906-1998; Hunn, Jack Kent, 1906-1997; Lythgoe, Ian Gordon, 1914-2000; Probine, Mervyn Charles (Dr), 1924-2010; Williams, Robert Martin (Dr), 1919-2013

Reference: OHColl-1158

Description: Interviews conducted for Alan Henderson's history of the State Services Commission, 'The Quest for Efficiency', 1990. The interviews were recorded late 1986 and early 1987. Some of the topics discussed include: the Public Service Commission in the 1940s and 1950s, senior personnel, the McCarthy Commission of 1961 that reviewed state services, the subsequent replacement of the Public Service Commission by the State Services Commission, the role of State Services Commissioner, grading and pay fixing, relationship with the Public Service Association, staffing numbers, relationship between governments and the Commission, the reforms of the 1980s. Interviewees: L.A. (Allan) Atkinson, E.J. (Jack) Batt, Eric G. Heggie, Sir Jack Hunn, Ian Lythgoe, Sir Thaddeus McCarthy, A.H. (Bert) O'Keefe, Mervyn Probine, J.F. (John) Robertson, D.N. (Des) Ryan, Robin Williams. Sponsored by - Alan Henderson's history of the State Services Commission was a project of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Interviewer(s) - Alan Henderson Arrangement: Original recordings: OHC-019729 - OHC-019748; OHT5-2473 - OHT5-2476 Quantity: 11 interview(s). 10 audiocassette(s). 10 C60 cassette(s). 4 5" reel(s). 1 printed abstract(s) a notebook containing indexes to eight of the interviews. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - other Indexes to eight interviews Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available for four interviews. Provenance: The four open reel tapes were found with the audio cassettes at MCH. One is labelled 'Int. Blundell, Reel 1 of 4', another has a torn label 'Blundell' and the remaining two are unlabelled Number of interviews/events: 11