DOWNING STREET ON TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19966, 7 June 1928, Page 8

DOWNING STREET ON TOUR.

Referring to oversea tours by representatives of the Colonial Office, the Permanent Under-Secretary for the Colonies has expressed his hope that junior officials will be sent on such tours early in their service in the department. The idea is an excellent one. In the growing work of the Colonial Office there must arise a necessity for first-hand knowledge on the t part of every officer. More and more there will have to be a delegation of duty to assistants, and this will be fraught with risk of unintelligent handling unless there be intimate understanding. In the virtual division of labour that has taken place in making the Parliamentary head of the department Secretary for Dominion Affairs, with attendant changes including the appointment of chief officials to service for the Dominions and Colonies respectively, there has been acknowledged the growth of both sides of the work. This is bound to go on, as colonics, protectorates and "spheres of influence" develop their resources and demand increasing administrative oversight. This oversight should be marked by thorough sympathy as well as thorough skill. History has its lessons. It is highly probable that much friction, not to say blundering, would have been averted in earlier days had there been closer personal contact between Downing Street and the oversea territories. Old error is giving place to new understanding, and there cannot be too much of this. Time was when the Empire was in danger of being strangled with red tape flung from an office chair in London. In the recognised status of the self-governing Dominions that day has passed so far as they are concerned ; but it has not so passed for the more dependent territories, although the risk'of routine domination is being lessened. Among the heads of the department there is a welcome wish for full acquaintance with colonial points of view, and to send junior officials abroad will make their apprenticeship a reality and a valuable contribution to the new and better order.