HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 85, 4 January 1940, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA

Appointment To Dominion

DR. RIDDELL’S WIDE EXPERIENCE Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND. January 2. The Canadian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. Mr. AV. F. Bull, said last night that the appointment of Dr. AA’. A. Riddell as High Commissioner in New Zealand for Canada followed a decision by the Canadian Government to establish .High Commissioners in each of the Dominions. It was designed to bring the Governments of the Empire in closer touch, more particularly since the launching of the airl raining scheme which was io have its headquarters in Canada.' For many years I'nmidii had .>een represented by a High Cornniissiouer in London, and recemly Mr. (.'. 11. Burchell bad been appointed to a similar position in Australia. He added that a High Commissioner in New Zealand would supplement Hie work of Ihe present Trade Commissioner's office, which would continue its representation of trade and business interests in Canada. Scholastic Career. Born at. Stratford, Ontario, in 1881, Dr. Riddell bus had a distinguished scholastic and diplomatic career. He graduated B.A. al the I'nivi-rsily of Manitoba in 1997. M.A. al Columbia Cniversiiy in 11)0.8. ami I’li.D. in sociology and economies in 191(5. In addition he took his B.D. at the Guion Theological Seminary in BIJ2 and e.-ir-

ried out post-graduate research in archives at. Ottawa, Paris and London. Dr. Riddell became Director of Social Surveys for the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in MM3, Superintendent of Trades find Labour to the Ontario Government in 1910, DeputyMinister of Labour in 1919, ami was Chief of Section. International Lal/our Office. League of Nations, from 1920 to 1925. He has been prominently associated with employment questions and legislation in Canada aud organized tlie-surplus labour of the Province of Ontario for wartime farm service. He was a member of the Canadian delegation to the first Internatiomil Labour Conference at Washington, and was Secretary of its Ijiemployment Commission. I.eague of Nations. In addition to his work in connexion with labour problems. Dr. Riddell r.'presented the International Labour Ollice at many important conferences and was a member of the Canadian delegations to the Assembly of l lie League of Nations from 1925 onward. He acted as delegate plenipotentiary to such major assemblies as the Conference for Ihe Limitation of Naval Armament. the Second Opium Conference, the Arms Control Conference, and many others. Dr. Riddell was elected Dean of the 1 dplonmlic Corps of I’ermaiienl Representatives resident in Switzerland' accredited Io the League of Nations in 1932. He was awarded Ihe Columbia University Medal in 1929. in recognition of Ids distinguished public service.. A member of many important institutes. Dr. Riddell is the author of various social and industrial surveys. His wife, formerly Miss MaryGordon, is it niece of Dr. C. AV. Gordon, bettor known tinder his pen-name of Ralph Connor, who visited Now Zealand some ye.-irs ago.

In addition to bis many other activities. Dr. Riddell is interested in various branches of sport, including skiing, mountaineering, tennis, golf, and motoring.