HIGH COMMISSIONER

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1945, Page 3

HIGH COMMISSIONER

SIR PATRICK DUFF ARRIVES. WELLINGTON, July 24. “There has been no time yet to sweep up the mess of war in Britain, but it was a case of first things first,” said Sir Patrick Dufl', interviewed today on his arrival to take tip the post of High Commissioner in New Zealand for the United Kingdom. “Until Japan is in the bag there is no time or labour to spare for anything short of essentials,” said Sir Patrick, “but I want to assure you that their experiences during the war have not got the British people down.” Britain had suffered many wounds —some visible, some invisible —but the physical repairs were apt to be quicker than might be thought against the background of general eWorld recovery. Britain would not lack the resources to make good her physical and other hurts, and in many ways she would emerge stronger than ever. “We have learned many lessons which will do us no harm. We have learned a renewed confidence in our own capacity, and our own resourcefulness. Britain has reaffirmed her belief in those manly virtues which it was fashionable between the wars for a small but disproportionately vocal intelligentsia to disparage.” The future had many trials, but no terrors for Britain because the difficulties to be overcome were fully realised. “It is from a confident Britain that I bring you a message of confidence in New Zealand’s future and in the benefits which the partnership of the British Commonwealth and Empire can bring to us,” said Sir Patrick. He stressed that, despite nearly six years of war and all the privations and hardships they had undergone, the people of Britain knew that until Japan was defeated they could not relax. The people of Britain had not been greatly changed by their hardships, but their trials and adversities had brought out their strong points. The people of Britain were admittedly tired, but that was not surprising considering what they had undergone. The physical strain had been severe and it had to be remembered that the people of Britain had suffered 61 per cent, of the total of the British Commonwealth casualties. Sir Patrick said there was a great appreciation in Britain of what New Zealand had done in giving homes to a number of British children during the war. “Wherever those children go they will have something to say about New Zealand for the rest of their lives,” said Sir Patrick. OUTLINE OF CAREER Sir Patrick Duff was born in 1889, son of the late Mr. Harry Duff, and was educated at Blundell’s School, Devonshire, and at Balliol College, Oxford. He was a cricket and Rugby football player, represented Oxford University at hockey, and is a member of the All England Tennis Club. In 1912 he joined the Civil Service, entering the Board of Trade. He served in the last war with the 29th Division from the landing at Gallipoli till the evacuation and subsequently in France and Belgium till wounded in 1917 at Arras. After recovery he served in Mesopotamia.’ He was twice mentioned in despatches. After the war he had an unusually long term as Private Secretary for ten years at No. 10 Downing Street, serving through five administrations, Conservative, Labour and Coalition, under Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and Mr. Baldwin, respectively. In 1929 he married Margaret, the daughter of the late James Woodcock. In 1932 he was' created K.C.B. From 1933 to the of 1941 he had an interesting period as Permanent Head of His Majesty’s Office of Works (later renamed the Ministry of Works and Public Buildings). Sir Patrick travelled in the course of his duties in Europe, Egypt, and Persia. In. 1937 he was created K.C.V.O. During his term in Canada as Deputy High Commissioner lor the United Kingdom from 1941 to 1944, lie came in contact with most of the leading personalities in Canada. Lady Duff in the last war served in the Women’s Royal Air Force and before this war she had considerable service under the Red Cross in several liospitals and first-aid posts during the war. She joined the Canadian Red Cross when she went to Canada.