HIGH COMMISSIONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19291, 1 April 1926, Page 11

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

DUTIES OF THE POST. SIR JAMES PARR'S VIEWS. QUESTION OF IMPROVED STATUS. His conception of tho duties pertaining to the ofiico he goes shortly to fill was expounded by Sir James Parr, High Com-missioner-elect, when speaking at. a complimentary luncheon tendered him by tho Auckland Chair' • of Commerce yesterday. Sir James also commented on tho suggestion made in some quarters that the High Commissioner should be a Minister of " " n. " Tho business side of the High 'nmmissionership is important, despito tho fact that some of its commercial duties have been shorn by tho creation of the Meat Control Board aiu. the Dairy Produce Export Control Hoard," said Sir James. The sett;tig up of those boards enabled producers to a large extent to look after the marketing of their produce in England. Still there remained very important commercial work for the High Commissioner to rttend to. There were, for.instance, the inquiries an suggestions of New Zealand businc. men as to tho aspect of their business with Britain. In Britain and on the Continent most useful information i- also bo found for application to New Zealand business methods, and the High Commissioner could play a most useful and profitable part for New Zealand business men.

Regarding the status cf the office, -vino had said that it would bo better to send a Minister of the Crown to London to act either with or without a High Commissioner. Hie argument employed was that a Minister would carry more weight, and be able, vu v f -~encc ♦"> the New Zealand "tvernmeni, to "•■ve instant decisions in matters of foreign w'" y. Sir James ventured ihe opinion that there would le no advantage in r ointing a Minister of the Crown. In any case, it was nee t that su f . a Minister should bo a member of the House of Representatives. But then, Sir James asked, what constituency w> let its representative go to London for three years, thus practically itself ? A Voice: " Eden." Sir James: "I <f» not believe that even the faithful of Eden would, although a friend told me that it might bo pos< sible. We might have saved a lot of trouble, however, if we had th. - Jit of that before." (Laughter). Continuing, Sir James claimed that no Minister would take it upon himself to decide matters of important internal policy. He would iii-t consult his Government, exactly as the H : ~h Commissioner would. Thus uo advantage would be gained by a change. It had also been suggested that the status of the High Commissioner should be improved by giving him move of the rank of an ambassador. Sir James said it would be improper for him to make any comments in that direction for it was a matter for the Government and people of New Zealand to decide. " Knowing the extent of the authority reposed in the High Commissioner " said Sir James, 41 1 to accept the office, believinsr that there I will find work to do, which wiH be of importance to the people of New Zealand!."'