HIGH COMMISSIONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13879, 13 October 1908, Page 6

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

THE NEW APPOINTMENT. SOUTHERN PRESS REFERENCES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS] Christchitrch, Monday. The Press, commenting on the appointment of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones as High Commissioner, says: "While we cannot go so far as, to say that we think it an ideal appointment, we have not the least doubt that Mr. Hall-Jones will bring to the discharge of his new duties the same conscientiousness and administrative ability which he has shown in the capacity ef Minister for Public Works. He has also the advantage of possessing tact and urbanity—both qualities which are eminently desirable in the office he is about to assume. On the other hand, it would be idle flattery to profess that he is equal to his predecessor as # a. public speaker, in literary attainments, or in that general knowledge and mental equipment which come from deep reading and a cultured mind. We must also confess to feeling some doubt as to how far Mr. Jones' health will stand the strain of administering the High . Commissioner's office as it ought to be administered. It is not a position to be treated as a post of dignified ease and retirement for a politician who feels he is no longer equal to the strain of Ministerial life in New Zealand. To do Mr. Hall-Jones justice, we feel sure that he is the last man in the world to take too light a view of his new duties. No doubt in accordance with the best traditions of the office he will sink his party predilections, and consider himself the representative of the Dominion as a whole."

The Lyttelton Times, in a eulogistic article, says : "If Mr. Jones' health holds good he will discharge the duties of the High Commissioner with success, because he has the business ability, the tact, and the knowledge of affairs demanded of the holder of that difficult office. We think the appointment will be generally applauded." Dunedin, Monday. Referring to the appointment of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones to the High Commissionership, the Daily Times says: "There has been some criticism of Mr. Jones' alleged lack of qualification for the position, but, while ; t must bo freely admitted that he is not likely to fill the office with such marked ability as Mr. Reeves, Mr. HallJones is unquestionably possessed of many of the qualities which should enable him to discharge the duties of the position with credit and success. He Has in his position as Minister of the Crown holding very important portfolios fairly earned the good-, will and esteem of the people by his painstaking and able discharge of the very onerous duties imposed on him. Possessing as he does a thorough grip of New Zealand finance, and generally of our material interests, and fairly equipped in other respects for the duties he is about to Resume, we think he will speedily show when he gets into harness that the Dominion has again been fortunate in the selection of her High Commissioner.*' •

A CAREER OF USEFULNESS. The newly-appointed High Commissioner for New Zealand (the Hon. W. Hall-Jone*?) comes of a Kentish family. He was born in the year 1851. When quite a young man (in 1873) lie came tc New Zealand, and settled at Timaru. Here for some years ho w-orked at the carpenter's bench. Being public spirited, it was not long before he took active part in municipal matters, and in 1890, at the death of Mr. T. Turnbull, he was induced to contest the Timaru seat as the opponent of the Government candidate, and was successful. The 1890 election following he was again elected for Timaru, and in the succeeding year (1891) he and Mr. (afterwards Sir Westby) Perceval were appointed Whips of the Liberal party. His views on certain policy matters were at variance with those of the leaders of bis part}', and gradually there grew a breach which widened until Mr. Hall-Jones resigned from bis office of Whip and eat alone. Forming in himself what was then known as the fourth party, he freely and vigorously criticised the Government and their administration. Thus he sat for about three yearsuntil the death of Sir Patrick Buckley and the resignation of the Hon. W. P. Reeves—when he was offered a seat in the Ministry as Minister for Justice by Mr.'Seddon. This was in February, 1896. Shortly after he became also Minister for Public Works, a portfolio he has held ever since. In time the following other Departments came under the Minister's charge, viz.,:-—Hospitals, Asylums, Charitable Aid, Roads and Bridges, Inspection of MacMueryj Government Printing Office, and Marine. On the rearrangement of the Ministry with, the retirement of the Hons. T. Y. Duncan and C. Mills, the hon. gentleman was also entrusted with the administration of the affairs of the railways. Thrice has the Minister had charge of the Dominion's affairs during the absence of the responsible head ; on one occasion— the death of Mr. Seddon— Premier, accepting office only on the understanding that Sir Joseph Ward, whose prior rights to the position he recognised, should 'have charge on returning from England.