U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER

Grey River Argus, 4 December 1940, Page 4

U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER

VISIT TO GREYMOUTH Welcome to Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, and Lady Batterbee were accorded a civic reception in the Greymouth Municipal Chambers last evening, there being a representative attendance of about fifty citizens. The Mayoress, Mrs F. A. Kitchingham, on behalf of the ladies of the West Coast, presented Lady Batterbee with a bouquet. The Mayor,. Mr F. A. Kitchingham, who presided, said that it was a sincere pleasure for him, on behalf of the citizens of Greymouth, to welcome Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee to the metropolis of the West Coast. Although it had a small population, it was the leading town of the West Coast. The occasion was one in which the circumstances could not be repeated as it was the first welcome in the town to a gentleman occupying the position of the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand. As it was the first time that the position had been occupied, it denoted a difference in the status of New Zealand. The Dominions were free and independent nations, united to the one monarch. The freedom and independence of the Dominions was linked with that of the United Kingdom, so Sir Harry had recently come to New Zealand to take up the position of High Commissioner. The man for that position must be one who had shown that he was worthy of it. Sir Harry had occupied many positions in the Colonial Office and had been Private Secretary to Sir (afterwards Lord) Walter Long during the .Great War; Political Adviser to Admiral Field, in 1924; and in 1927 he had toured the Dominion with the Duke and Duchess of York. The Mayor expressed a hope that Sir Harry would give his private view of the warsituation and of world politics. He was sure that his address would be an informative one, giving much food for thought. In welcoming Sir Harry, it would be well to give him some figures pertaining to the West Coast industries throughout the year 1939. Coal produced in the Grey district amounted to over half a million tons, this being the first occasion to which the district had reached more than the half million mark Gold produced in the three West Coast Counties was valued at £900,000, going well on to the million pound mark, and representing an increase of 50 per cent, on the previous year. During the year, 64,000,000 super feet of timber, mainly rimu, valued at the mills at £570,000, had been produced. However, certain facts counterbalanced these figures, for, except for farming, which was carried on in a small way, the province was living on its capital. The exports through the Otira Tunnel for the year were 60.000 sheep and pigs, making an income of about £60,000, and 9,000 cattle and calves, and from these exports, £lOO,OOO was not far off the total return. There was, in addition, an . output of butter Mr Kitchingham then extended to Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee a very cordial welcome during their brief stay, and said that it was to be hoped that they were enjoying themselves. He expressed the hope that they would again visit the town and would see the beauties of South Westland, which surpassed anything elsewhere in New Zealand.

Sir Harry, in reply, said that on behalf of his wife and himself, he wished to thank Mr Kitchingham for his welcome. It was not, however, the first time he had visited New Zealand, he having been here twice before —in 1924 with H.M.S. “Hood.” and in 1927 with the Duke and Duchess of York. However, he had not been in Greymouth before. He knew that the King and Queen had not forgotten their visit to New Zealand During his farewell visit to the King and Queen before he left for Nev-' Zealand, Their Majesties had talked for a long time with him about their visit, to the country, and asked him to bear a message of gratitude and thanks to all their friends in the Do minion for the happy time they had spent. They would never forget them. He did not know when he was here last that he would visit the place again as the High Commissioner. He was now representing England in “the most British of all the Dominions.” Once again he thanked the people for their welcome, saying that he was sorry that his stay was so short. He had nevertheless done his best to see all the well-known resorts. He had visitdd the Grey River dredge at Ikamatua and also the Ngahere dredge. He had been fascinated with the operation of a dredge. He wished the industries every possible success, and hoped that he and his wife could again visit the West Coast in the near future.

After the official reception. the Mayor requested the gathering to stay for a personal talk with Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee.