Our Man In London

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30710, 27 March 1965, Page 5

Our Man In London

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press”) March 9, 1961, Vz Sir Thomas Lachlan Macdonald, former Southland farmer who became a Cabinet Minister in the National Government, was appointed High Commissioner in London —the top New Zealand diplomatic post.

He had retired from politics in 1957, and 1958 went on an extended world tour with Lady Macdonald, spending several months in Britain.

Since 1961 he has been hard at work, first in the old New Zealand House in the Strand, and then since 1962 in the new one in the Haymarket—the 18-storey architectural showpiece near Trafalgar Square. And also hard at work attending many diplomatic functions, dinners, receptions and exhibitions all about London and much in demand as a speaker in cities throughout the British Isles. “I haven’t had time to analyse whether I like the job or not—l just do the work that is to be done.” he said recently. In the performance of a High Commissioner’s prime (but not public) function, maintenance of contact between the New Zealand and British Government the work is indeed considerable. But he is also a key figure in the Dominion’s “public relations” in Britain. “Selling” N.Z. In the last four years Sir Thomas Macdonald has used any and every opportunity to enlighten the British about the virtues of our country and all its exports whether toheroa soup, butter, cheese, lamb and wool, Rugby teams, cricketers, and other sportsmen, or artists and musicians. There is a story that he visited the vast emporium of Fortnum and Mason’s soon after arrival in London. Since the store prides itself on having all the best food delicacies from every part of the globe, he inquired for New Zealand mutton-bird—but the impeccably dressed salesman didn’t know of it. The High Commissioner gave an impromptu dissertation on the delicacy Fortnum’s had missed.

Frequently he wears a navy blue tie covered with tiny silver fern emblems. Behind the fern is the red sword of the City of London, for this is the club tie of the LondonNew Zealand Cricket Club. He is vice-patron of the club and takes a great interest in its activities; on occasions he has even taken the field. A “Daily Telegraph” columnist wrote last week: “Sir Thomas still has the air of the farmer he was for many years.” His image is a reputation for solid thought and frank, “down-to-earth” expression of his opinions. And in spite of his high ranking in diplomatic circles, he retains a typical modesty. This in an attribute shared by Lady Macdonald, who was once speaking with an English woman who asked what line of business her husband was engaged in—“Oh, he works at New Zealand House,” Lady Macdonald replied. Inevident At Show On another occasion the Macdonalds were visiting Scotland and decided to attend an agricultural show. If the organisers had realised their identity, the High Commissioner and bis Lady would certainly have been invited to a place of honour. But the Macdonalds preferred to queue for tickets with the general public . . . when they got to the gate the keeper asked if they were pensioners?

“We’re New Zealanders,” was the reply. Lady Macdonald broke in: “In our own country we would be pensioners.” “Well you can come in for half-price,” said the gatekeeper. They did. His official transport is in the Rolls-Royce provided by the New Zealand Government —flying the Southern Cross on the bonnet above a num-ber-plate “N.Z. 1.” His chauffeur is Ken Phillips, a Londoner who has driven New Zealand’s High Commissioners for about 14 years.

The official residence for the High Commissioner is an imposing three-storey stone house in Cornwall terrace, at the northern end of Baker street. It is the first of a terrace of houses, but is fortunate to possess by London standards a large garden.

The terrace dates back to about the 1820’s, when the actress Sarah Siddons lived in Baker street. She was in favour with high authorities and thus used her influence to see that her view of

Regent’s Park was not spoilt by a house being built on the area which is now the High Commissioner’s garden. The rooms inside the house are tastefully but not lavishly furnished. The spacious lounge commands a splendid view of the southern end of Regent’s Park.

Likes Exercise Sir Thomas Macdonald revels in exercise.—“ln this job I am doing so much sedentary work ... and some weeks I am out almost every day at receptions or functions so I need to keep fit.” There is an astonishing flow of New Zealanders through Sir Thomas’s Office—up to 17 appointments a morning. Many bear letters of introduction from people Sir Thomas had known at school, in the army or politics. After lunch, he tries between engagements or appointments to catch up with the news of the day in press and periodicals, skims through his cable and copies of cables travelling between other New Zealand diplomatic posts.

He likes to seize every chance to keep awake his farming interest by “getting out into the country now and again, and see what goes on." He is a third generation “New Zealanders” with grandparents who were pioneer settlers in Southland. But he comes of Scottish descent on both sides of his family, and a favourite destination for holidays is up to the Highlands. What does he like most about his job?—“Oh undoubtedly its all the people I meet. —Whether they are figures in the news over here, New Zealanders who have made their mark here, or New Zealanders ’just visiting’ who tell me what is happening at home.”