AUSTRALIA HOUSE “SWANK”

Evening Star, Issue 18045, 12 August 1922, Page 11

AUSTRALIA HOUSE “SWANK”

CALLING ON COOK. Sir Joseph Cook, formerly a. Lit-hgow miner, was tolerably approachable as an ordinary politician (says the Sydney ‘ Sun ’), but as High Commissioner he is about as accessible as the height of Everest. An Australian at present visiting England gives his experiences in his attempt to interview Sir Joseph Cook, " The High Commissioner’s office is what Americans would call tho ‘dizzy limit,’” he writes to a Newcastle friend. “ Swank and 1 snobbery, flavored with Australian sauce, takes one’s breath away. I had a letter given me by an _ ex-member of the New South Wales Parliament to hand to the High Commissioner personally, I presented it during the first week of my arrival, and was toldi that I could not see tho High Commissioner without first seeing thei Agent-General for New South Wales. After three visits I met that gentleman, who gave mo a Card to the High Commissioner’s secretary, “Three calls at Australia House took place without unearthing that official, so 1 went back and told Sir Timothy Coghkm the result of my excursion. Ho then suggested seeing Official No. 2—the ‘ Military Gentleman.’ I got in touch with No. 2 after two' calls, filled) up a form, and left my card. Finally an appointment was made to meet the august personage I was seeking at 2 p.mf next day. “I presented myself at Ms office at- the time appointed, only to ho told by Official No. 2 that the High Commissioner had gone for a motor trip. Next day’s call brought me in touch with Official No. 3, who suggested that I should leave another card for an appointment next day. A week later I called again, and was told that I had better see Official No. 4—the librarian.

“A visit to him produced jome hints. Firstly, I should) sign tho visitors’ book'/; secondly, my card should be left; thirdly, I should) come again and say that I had an appointment, and bluff it through. I -left Official .No. 4 with his promise to fix matters up for me. ‘ Righto, old man,’ I replied. My letter was getting dirty, and my card case was empty. ( “What rot it all is! It .seems only a few months ago that the High Commissioner -was slobbering over me and shaking hands, as the least excuse for my vote in a certain village on the North Shore lino.”