Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt for the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]

Sir Henry, former Secretary, Dept. of Defence, talks of his early life in Sydney; London during World War II; Wurth; Post War Reconstruction; industrial relations; migrants; reorganisation of the Dept of Labour; unemployment benefits; CES; re-settlement of ex-service personnel; placement of migrants; legislation; industrial relations system; communists; Arbitration Court; Canberra; dismissal of underachievers; Communist Party Dissolution Bill; Albert Monk; Australian Mission, Berlin; C Series index; National Service Act; Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; Commonwealth Industrial Court; apprenticeships; adult training schemes; Papua New Guinea pay rates; relations with Asia; Lee Kuan Yew; Harold Holt; Bill McMahon; stevedoring industry problems; Post Office; Pilots; ILO conferences; equal pay; aboriginal pay and benefits; manpower; Teheran; qualifications of Service personnel; relations between civilians and Service personnel; restructure of the Defence Dept; NASA at Houston; hospitals; 5 year rolling program; Chiefs of Staff; Alan Fairhall; F111; relations with the US; relations with Malaysia and Singapore; the Opposition involvement in Defence policy; US bases in Australia; Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; his resignation from Defence; Malcolm Fraser; Tange's appointment; staffing; activities after leaving Defence; his knighthood; Whitlam's appointment of permanent heads; review of the Commonwealth Public Service; Whitlam's dismissal; Administrative Review Committee; Coombes Commission; his appointment to the ABC; Alvin Purple; ABC objectives; Radio Australia; ABC guidelines on programming; news; current affairs; music; ethnic broadcasting; financial constraints; staff ceilings; costs; Green Inquiry; industrial action; his resignation; activities since retirement; building their home at Burradoo.