NEW ZEALAND IN LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17484, 31 May 1920, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND IN LONDON.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

Some months ago a severe criticism of the High Commissioner's Office in.London by Mr. George Scott, of Christchurch, was published in the Hmitj, Sir Thomas Mackenzie forwards as bearing upon the criticism the following letter received from Mr. 'Fred. H. Cooper, of Auckland:—-

"In ft copy of the New Z&uxvd HEBAiJ),.daW January 19 last, I very much regretted to see fin article, on the authority of a Mr. George Scott, complaining of the want of attention, etc., of your officers. My experience has been directly to the contrary, It would have been quit* impossible to exceed the courtesy afforded nie'and the. convenience of youi* office, your correspondence department, and your Mr. Wray hare all collectively and individually combined to make •my visit to London both pleasant and profitable. You are at liberty to make any use you think fit of this letter." Sir Thomas Mackenzie also sends a detailed reply to'itx. Scott's strictures, in which he says: — ! "Mr. Scott says we should have New Zealand officers in the Emigration Department. As a matter of fact", we have there three officers who have had New Zealand experience, but it is possible that on the day of his visitf these officers were away, personally attending to the embarkation of passengers *on ship's departure, and seeing to their general comfort. No department in the office is harder worked nor' gives more information or more useful service.* It should be remembered that far more people are applying than accommodation can be found for. At the momen'i nearly 10,000 people are waiting to go to New Zealand, and I am safe in saying that double or treble that number would avail themselves of accommodation could it be obtained, so that if many others are induced to go id can only end in disappointment, as accommodation cannot bo had for fully twelve months. How much does Mr. Scott know of the work done here? Nothing! He ought to be the last person to cast reflections on the usefulness of this office, for I find, on reference to the file, that, besides the letters fcddressed to him, some fifteen to twenty were written on his behalf, in order to aMiist him in his work in this country, and to facilitate his visit to France and return to tho Dominion, and passports wore secured for him. For doinij much less for other people we have received thanks, bat from 'Mr. Scott an erroneous epithet entirely contrary to fact." * '