THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13375, 17 March 1909, Page 6

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

The rumours that the* High Commissioner's staff was to be strengthened oy the addition of Messrs T. E. Donne and

Mr T. 11. Hamer prove to have been well founded. Tbe prophets, however, went astray in placing 3lr Hamer as successor to Mr Kennaway, the secretary to the Commissioner, to whose j_ood work the Premier las* ni<_ht pa:d a -'"served Out by no means rompliment. Mr Hamer's appointment in that capacity n-oiild. wo believe, havo been a very gocd one. affording 6<-ope for those qualities of tact ard diplomacy that he possesses in such larjje measure. iJn*- the Government have decided that the claims to promotion of Mr C. "Wray Pallisor. who for a mini-

her oi years ha* acted as accountant and audit officer in tho Dominion's Lct-.'lon office, must not be overlooked. Mr I'aUiior, therefore, succeeds Mr Kc-uuaw.-iy :ind Mr Hamer goes to hll the vr.capcy. For Mr Donne, General Manager ct the Tourist Department i:nd .Secretary of the Industries nnd Onimerc* D; pi rt went, v.-ho also -.vould havo b.-'en .-*. valuable successor to Mr Kcnriaway. a new post has been created in London. He is to give his attention to the general do-vr-lopmeiit of trade, both ways, between the Old Country and New Zealand, and to supervise and ceiitrol immigration, and incidentally, we imagine, he will bring , the attractions of New Zealand, as a resort for tourists, sportsmen, and settlers, as prominently before the British public as the means placed at his disposal will allow. Mr Donne is perhaps better known as the energetic head of the Tourist Department rather than for his connection with tho Industries and Commerce Department, a portion of the public service oi which one hears but little. lie bar done iimcli to publish abroad the fame of the tourist and health resorts, and though in cases such us the Rotorua bath-house wo think undue expenditure has been incurred, Xew Zealand would havo been nmch loss widely and favourably kn-">wn had it not been for the Tourist Department. Mr Donne's thorough knowlcdgo of the Dominion to-doy should be of great vallie in London. There is a pood opening for more vigorous efforts to dovelop trade, though Mr Cameron, tho Produce CommW-sionor, has done goodwork in that direction. The two new officers will materially strengthen the High Commissioner's staff, and the Government nicy be congratulated upon tlieir appointment. We do not quite understand how the extra cost can be as low as £S4 a year, but this is a point upon trhic-h wo shall get moro information when Parliament meets, if not before. If the Premier has been correctly reported, the reform is a very cheap one indeed.