Popular London Representatives

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30546, 15 September 1964, Page 2

Popular London Representatives

IBy .

ALAN MITCHELL,

N Z.P.A.

Special Correspondent J

LONDON, Sept. 14. Receptions given by Sir Thomas and Lady MacDonald at the High Commissioner’s official residence at No. 1 Cornwall terrace, overlooking Regent’s Park, are always cheerful and certainly acceptable to New Zealanders. But there will be mixed feelings at a gathering there tomorrow evening since it will be a farewell party for Mr Lloyd White, Deputy High Commissioner for the last three years, and his wife, Miranda. They are sailing in the Athenic two days later for; Wellington. London New Zealanders, and not the least “Sir Tom", I will be sorry to see them go for they have been a popular couple and. at New Zealand House, as the High Commis-

sioner’s right-hand man. Lloyd White has been efficient and unruffled, well liked by the staff and well received in Whitehall. He Is especially well known to officials at the Ministry of Agriculture for on several occasions he has conducted the New Zealand Government’s negotiations on dairy produce and meat imports. On more than one occasion he has battled effectively in Geneva. Tall, quiet, and with a rather studious manner, this old boy of Timaru Boys’ High School has the gift of explaining the most complex subjects —G.A.T.T. for one—in simple, clear cut language, and summing up long discussions succinctly. His ability is appreciated by the primary produce boards.

Both Lloyd and Miranda White also have mixed feelings at leaving London, but they are looking forward to ! returning to New Zealand after an absence of 10 years. White first came to London ! in 1954, when he was ecojnomic counsellor for two

years. He was in Washington for five years, for some of the time as charge d’affaires at the New Zealand Embassy, before coming back to London towards the end of 1960. Away from New Zealand House, Lloyd and Miranda White have a common interest—golf. It used to be tennis, but now they spend more time on fairways than lawns or hard courts, and their handicaps are being steadily reduced. White will be returning to the Department of External Affairs in Wellington, and until his successor is appointed Sir Thomas Macdonald will have as No. 2—though not as Deputy High Commissioner— Mr Malcolm Templeton, senior external affairs officer. Another reception recently was for Mr R. J. H. Hogg, the chief finance officer at New Zealand House, known to al] his friends as Jim Hogg. He sailed with his wife and family last week in the Ruahine. Hogg’s successor is Mr A. Ashley-Jones. This farewell-and-hail party

was in the penthouse, on the seventh floor of New Zealand House. Guests at gatherings in the penthouse always consider they have double value —the company and the wonderful panoramic view of London. Sir Thomas Macdonald, who has recently returned from a summer holiday in Scotland, the land of his forbears, is now well into his second term as High Commissioner, and London New Zealanders have been glad to learn it will be for three years and not one. He has the qualities that New Zealanders in London like in their High Commissioners—the ability to be relaxed and informal in private conversations and to speak well on public occasions. The modesty of the Macdonalds has also appealed. An illustrative story is of a New Zealander talking to Lady Macdonald without knowing she was the High Commissioner’s wife. “And what does your husband do?” she asked as a

fresh conversational gambit. “Oh,” said Lady Macdonald, “he works at New Zealand House.”