SCOPE FOR BETTER FACILITIES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 39, 9 November 1938, Page 12

SCOPE FOR BETTER FACILITIES

New Zealand House In London

TASK FOR THE FUTURE

More Urgent Problems At

Present

General agreement with a suggestion that there was scope for an improvement in the facilities at New Zealand Blouse in London was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview last evening. He said that, desirable as this might be however, there were other more urgent problems which would have to take precedence. ‘‘l don’t think anyone could be violently enthusiastic about the facilities at New Zealand House,” said Mr. Savage, when his attention was called to a stalenient by a New Zealander on his return from England in which he expressed tlie opinion that the time had come for New Zealand House to be enlarged or for more commodious premises to be acquired elsewhere. "No doubt there is room for improvement. but we have so many other urgent problems it is difficult to know which one to begin with. I do think that New Zealand House should be kept at as high a standard as possible.

"A great deal lias to be done in England by New Zealand House. It is not only a matter of meeting New Zealanders in London, but New Zealand House has also to deal with people in England concerning trade questions. So much more might be done by New Zealand House if it had the proper facilities. There are people who think that money is wasted on New Zealand House, but I am not one of them. However, I am afraid the question of improving the present facilities will have to wait for tlie time being.”

The opinion that the time had come for New Zealand House in London to be enlarged, or for more commodious premises to be acquired elsewhere, was expressed by Mr. G. IL Morrish, of Whangarci, who returned recently to New Zealand from a holiday in England. He said that the activities of the High Commissioners staff had grown so greatly that further useful expansion was being hampered by the Inek of room. For instance, Australia House had a special section where specimens of Commonwealth products were sold to the British people. It resulted in considerable publicity for Australia and tlie activities of the New Zealand publicity director, Mr. IT. T. B. Drew, were so valuable that any opportunities to increase them should be encouraged. of tlie New Zealand Parliament and others who cavilled at extra expenditure on New Zealand House should go and see for themselves the work being done for the Dominion in London.