"AT HOME"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 35, 10 August 1927, Page 15

"AT HOME"

EXPERIMENT IN LONDON

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, Ist June.

Sir James and Lady Parr have hit upon a novol idea—one that can hardly fail to prove very successful and popular. This is to hold, during the coming few weeks,, a series of four afternoon' receptions. They have available for tw purpose, without the expense of hiring, a handsome and spacious room on the first floor of what wUI, a few years hence, be the London headquarters of the New Zealand Government. This is still generally referred to as "the B.M.A. Building." It is in The Strand, only a block removed from the present offices. The big room, handsomely panelled with oak/ana having a beautiful floor, was originally the library of the British Medical Association, and it will eventually be used as the library, of the High Commissioner's office..

The informality of the "at home" is emphasised by the fact that no invitations are issued. Any New Zealanaers who wish to attend have merely to apply for a card. Naturally the number- o2 cards 'will be limited each time. This is necessary to ensure the comfort of those, who go,'and to ensure, too, that everyone shall be. adequately catered for in the matter of afternoon .tea.

At the first reception, held on 30th May, there were probably 300 people present, and the afternoon proved most pleasant. Practically all New Zealandera who come to England wish to have the opportunity of meeting the High Commisisoner. In office hours it is often difficult for a busy man to devote as much time as he would wish to chatting about the ordinary. affairs of life —at home ana here. But, given a free afternoon, as now. arranged, the High Commissioner is there, with his wife, to meet everybody who wishes to have a chat. The experiment is thoroughly democratic and without formality, and will probably save the High Commissioner many of the disappointments occasioned in the past because an ordinary working day in the height of the season is far too short for every one of the many callers at the office to have the opportunity of a chat. At the reception this is a very simple matter, and no one is hurried. Furthermore, there is the; advantage—always welcome—of friends renewing acquaintances with one another. These afternoon parties will probably take the place of the former big annual gathering, when invitations have been extended to New Zealanaers numbering several thousand— the compilation of lists and issuing of invitations on such occawSt^SkFi?* 6"/ B% d many weeka of work. The big function can, however, stall be arranged, for when an important occasion warrants it.