FOR PRESS: P. 11 741965
COMMO1VEALTH GRAFTS COMHI I SION
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
Sir Leslie Melville, K. B. E. and Mr. H. J.
Goodes, will become members of the Commonwealth
Grants Commission for a period of three years to
* September, 1968. They will replace Sir Alexander Reid, C. M. G.,
and Professor ", ilfred Prest.
Sir Leslie Melville's appointment is from
1st October, 1965 and Mr. Goodes' term of appointment will
begin on 6th November, following his retirement from his
present position as Director-General of Social Services.
The retirements of Professor Prest and Sir
* Alexander will terminate long and valuable associations with
the affairs of the Grants Commission. Both members have
served four terms with the Commission and both have made
considerable contributions to its work. In no small way,
they have assisted in maintaining the high confidence which
the Commission enjoys with Commonwealth and State authorities
alike. The Government is pleased that Sir Leslie
Melville and Mr. Goodes have agreed to accept invitations
to fill the vacancies left by the retirements.
CANBERRA, September, 1965.
( Biographical notes on Sir Leslie Melville and Mr. Goodes
are attached)
2:.
Biographical Notes
Sir Leslie Melville Sir Leslie Melville, is 65 years of
age. He has had a distinguished academic career and has
occupied many high positions in Government service. He was
Public Actuary of South Australia, 1924-1928; Professor of
Economics in the University of Adelaide 1929-1951; Economic
Adviser to the Comironwealth Bank, 1931-1950; Member of
Advisory Committee on Financial and Economic Policy, Department
of the Treasury, 1939; Executive Director representing
Australia and South Africa, International Monetary Fund and
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
1950-1953; Assistant Governor Commonwealth Bank, 1950-1955;
Member of Reserve Bank Board 1959-1963 Vice-Chancellor,
Australian National University 1955-1960; and Ciairman
of Tariff Board, 1960-1965. From 1965 until recently, he
occupied a senior position with the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. Shortly after returning to
Australia he was reappointed as a member of the Reserve Bank
Board.
Mr. H. J. Goodes Mr. H. J. Goodes will reach 65 later this
year and will retire from his present position of Directoreneral
of Social Services. Before joining the Commonwealth
Public Service, Mr. Goodes lives in 4estern Australia where
he occupied senior positions in the State Public Service.
He was an Assistant Secretary in the Commonwealth Treasury
from 1942 to 1957, First Assistant Secretary, 1957-58, and
Co-ordinator-General of Works 1954-1958. In 1958 he was
appointed to the position of Director-General of Social
Services. In addition, he has served on boards of a number
of statutory bodies, i. e. Executive of the Council
of the Australian National University and the Commonwealth
Scholarship Board.